Yorkshire Water pumps cash into electric vehicle infrastructure

Yorkshire Water is planning to install up to 1,000 electrical vehicle (EV) charging points across its sites and employees’ homes, as the water company strengthens its electric fleet.

In order to reach Net Zero by 2030, the water company set out a roadmap, which details a decade of initiatives to install renewables, lower overall energy use, and switch its entire fleet of vans to electric.

Staff who drive an electric van for the company will be able to charge at home, at work, and on-the-go at public chargers.

The first EV charging points will be installed at Yorkshire Water’s training academy in Bradford, where staff use Renault Zoes and Nissan e-NV200s and deliver training for the company’s 4,000 employees around the region.

This will be followed by additional installations and upgrades at a proposed 81 sites where employees use Renault Zoes, Nissan e-NV200s, the new Nissan Townstar and the Vauxhall e-Vivaro in all Yorkshire Water departments.

Nicola Shaw, CEO, said: “We have committed to achieving Net Zero operational emissions by 2030, and part of that ambition includes transitioning all our vehicles to zero or ultra-low emissions.

“Working with UK Power Networks Services to develop the supporting infrastructure for all our light commercial vehicles to be electric powered is an important step to making that a reality and will allow our teams to use electric vehicles to their full potential.”

Yorkshire Water has enlisted UK Power Network Services to install and maintain the chargers.

Philip Heathcote, head of markets at UK Power Networks Services, said: “We are determined in assisting Yorkshire Water achieve their sustainability targets.

“We often receive enquiries asking how a large vehicle fleet can electrify in a matter of years. This project proves that with strong collaborative partnerships, the right strategy and expertise – it can be done.”