Swedish power company Vattenfall is to convert its 3,500-strong fleet to electric vehicles as part of aims to be climate neutral by 2050.

Vattenfall’s fleet of 3,500 light duty vehicles will be 100% electric within five years.

The five-year replacement will include 1,700 vehicles in Sweden, as well as 1,100 in Germany and 750 in the Netherlands, spanning passenger cars, technical support vehicles and maintenance vans. Vattenfall already supplies charging points to businesses and consumers.

“To be able to fully switch our fleet, availability and freedom of choice in cars are very important as well”, said Martijn Hagens, the company’s head of customers and solutions. “The trend towards more affordable batteries with a wider range has already set in, which is why we believe the time is right to make this change. But electric cars still require a high financial investment. And if you look at for example company vans, there isn’t much choice yet.

“Stricter CO2-emission standards on an EU-level would help give car manufacturers the confidence that the development of electric vehicles is the true way forward, hopefully resulting in market growth and a wider range of cars at lower prices.”