Dundee City Council

Fraser Crichton, Corporate Fleet Manager, for Dundee City Council was awarded Public Sector Fleet Manager of the Year at the 2021 Green Fleet Awards. Reflecting on the event, Fraser and the wider Fleet team were honoured to be recognised by an industry leading communication platform within the fleet and transport sector.

This award concluded a challenging but rewarding year that included substantial development across the city in the uptake of e-mobility, with Fraser’s work being at the root of major projects. On behalf of the council, Fraser’s main objectives have been to expand EV infrastructure and vehicle uptake, improve city wide air quality, deploy further clean energy sources and to expand the reach of electric vehicle technology to the wider community.

Inclusion has also been a central objective in Dundee Council’s EV infrastructure strategy in order to achieve the accessibility necessary to long term sustainable change. This can be seen in the location of charging hubs in varying demographical areas, taxi industry involvement, carpools and discount schemes.

Over 2021, there were significant milestones. At the beginning of the year the first 2 fully electric HGVs arrived, now totalling 6 HGVs, marking the beginning of a long-term plan to convert all Dundee City Council vehicles to full electric by 2035. Furthermore, the first of Dundee’s pop-up EV charge points were installed at the V&A Museum as part of the Innovate UK Clean Street Project, Olympia Multi-Storey Charging Hub opened and the council held the Global EVI Pilot City Forum during COP26, in partnership with the International Energy Agency.

All of these milestones represent progress made in 2021 that now add to an established foundation of activity surrounding e-mobility in Dundee City. With Fraser at the helm, Dundee City Council now has over 175 council EVs, 6 charging hubs, over 165 electric taxis and over 1600 EVs registered for free parking.

Looking forward, the council is currently in the planning stages of building a fourth rapid charging hub within the city, designed with accessibility in mind and open to the public.  Alongside this development, chargers will be installed at the adjoining Clepington Road Depot to aid the further electrification of council owned vehicles. Gellatly Street Multi-Storey Charging Hub will also be opening at the end of January to the public, powered by a roof of solar array.