How are companies in Scotland doing in driving towards a zero-emission future?
When the government announced in November 2020 that it was bringing forward its ban on the sale of new cars and vans powered wholly by petrol and diesel it came as no great surprise. Having been muted in the press for some time, the statement simply confirmed that all businesses must now start planning the introduction of electric vehicles onto their fleets. There is a slight reprieve in that some hybrids will still be allowed beyond that date. But the reality is that during the next nine years its going to become increasingly expensive to drive combustion engine vehicles, more restrictive as clean air zones come into play, and companies not committing to the green agenda could find themselves being penalised in tenders. Its for this reason that 2030 should be viewed as a final cut off rather than a target date. According to Scott Durno who heads up Grosvenor Leasing  Scotland, the answer is very well. He said: There may be talk about range anxiety, worries about charging infrastructure and the suitability of electric vehicles, yet almost 50% of all new vehicles were delivering to our contract hire and fleet management customers across Scotland are now either fully electric or ultra-low emission. Glenmorangie Whisky is a great example of a company with a clear roadmap to convert their fleet to zero emission and Grosvenors 0zone team, which helps businesses make the smooth transition to a greener future, has never been busier advising companies on their ULEV and EV policies.  Leading the way in driving down emissions  Having won the Green Fleet award in December 2020 for Best Leasing Company, The Grosvenor Group, which comprises Grosvenor Leasing and Interactive Fleet Management, has been leading the way in driving down emissions for its customers for many years. Its 0Zone solution, which helps companies make the smooth transition to ultra-low emission and electric vehicles, was ahead of its time when launched in 2017. With hands-on support from green fleet specialists, companies enjoy an assessment of their fleets environmental impact and a clear pathway to convert their fleet, over time, towards the ultimate goal of zero emissions. Scott continued: We adopt a very practical, straightforward and transparent approach so that companies with cars and light commercial vehicles are very clear about how they can move towards a zero-emission future, and what potential hurdles they face along the way. Between now and 2030, every time a driver chooses a traditional petrol or diesel engine it commits their employer to that car for another 3 to 4 years, which is why its so important to offer a range of measures and support to expedite the transition to an electric vehicle fleet.  To find out more about 0Zone solution from Grosvenor Leasing, head to thegrosvenorgroup.co.uk/leasing/ozone.