Europcar Mobility Group UK: Supporting businesses on their transition to zero

Mark Newberry, Commercial Director and Sustainability spokesperson, Europcar Mobility Group UK talks about the steps the company is taking to support organisations on their transition to zero.

Committed to reducing our own carbon footprint as well as that of our customers, Europcar Mobility Group UK is growing our low and zero emissions fleet and network of electrified stations. In the space of a year we have added a wider range of electric vehicles – covering most use cases. And we’ve electrified over 50% of our UK network, with more than 200 charge points now available to ensure vehicles are charged and ready to go to meet customer demand.

The road to zero is not, however, straight forward. We know that for many organisations the path to a more sustainable fleet has quite a few diversions. Everything from range anxiety to the financial implications of making wholesale change.  We are, therefore, working with businesses to identify the best way to get on the low and zero emissions track.

Doing the right thing
First and foremost we are working with numerous businesses to ascertain whether the best solution lies with zero or low emissions.  For many, the growing prevalence of Clean Air and Ultra Low Emission Zones requires a shift in fleet make-up to ensure compliant vehicles are accessible, to avoid the costly fines. But that doesn’t necessarily mean they have to make a switch to fully electric.  

We believe the best way to cut the environmental impact of mobility today is to focus on reducing emissions – and that switching to fully electric, or if that’s not immediately feasible moving to younger, more modern vehicles. It also means adjusting motorists’ behaviour to use the right vehicle for the job, rather than own one larger vehicle that simply may not be necessary for a large proportion of the time.

Operating one of the youngest rental fleets in the market which feature the latest automotive technology and is regularly serviced and maintained – Europcar enables motorists and businesses to access vehicles that are less polluting and more efficient than many vehicles on UK roads.  This means the Europcar ICE fleet is totally compliant with all CAZ and ULEZ requirements. Therefore, we offer a solution that is good for the environment and good for operational and financial management.

A journey of discovery
For those businesses that want to understand what electric motoring means, the key is to discover in real world conditions.  It’s difficult for OEMs and dealers to offer test drives of more than a few days at best but that really doesn’t give businesses and their drivers the full picture of what it means to drive electric.  

At Europcar we’re helping employers win the hearts and minds of their drivers through our ‘try before they buy’ solutions. For a few weeks or longer, drivers can discover everything about driving electric, from how and where to charge to how to drive for best battery efficiency.

Long-term EV rental from Europcar gives businesses even more flexibility and choice, especially when it comes to commitment-free zero emissions options. Available for a minimum of 3 months with no upfront deposit and commitment free, Flex from Europcar for EV includes comprehensive vehicle handover with a qualified EV expert, charging instructions support, charging cables and CO2 insights.

Having been part of the Green Fleet EV Rally earlier this year, we know that having a real-world experience over a number of days provides genuine insight into the electric driving experience.
A team of 20+ Europcar colleagues joined a 50-strong convoy of EVs on the 1,200-mile Rally, gaining numerous learnings which we are now taking to our customers to help them transition to electric.  

Taking the EV Strategy to the Next Level
We also recently reshaped our product development and marketing resources to put further focus on electric vehicles with the appointment of a new Head of Electric Mobility. Combined with a team of Certified Electric Vehicle Experts across our branches, who provide hands-on support for new EV drivers and the creation of a digital EV Guide for insight into our electric fleet and access to the Zapmap charger locator, these initiatives all demonstrate our clear focus on helping businesses transition to electric.

We are also ‘walking the talk’, doing everything we can to reduce our own environmental impact. As well as 87% of our own company car drivers now driving electric, we have increased the use of EVs as runner vehicles and invested in electric bikes for our Delivery & Collection service.  All of these actions add up to significant reductions in emissions.

To find out more about Europcar’s sustainable mobility solutions visit europcar.co.uk/business