Recently sustainability has transitioned from a peripheral concern to a core value driving strategic personal and professional decisions. The UK government has demonstrated this shift by announcing an ambitious net-zero emissions target by 2050.
Transportation represents an impactful area for businesses to reduce their environmental impact, as vehicles are the source of more than a quarter of the UK’s emissions. Here is how British businesses are adapting to this rapidly changing landscape with the help of the latest innovations in sustainable transport.
Embracing Sustainable Transport Solutions
The UK business community has a wide range of innovative yet sustainable transport solutions at its fingertips. Making it easier than ever to implement incentives for your employees to usher them toward a more sustainable future.
Electric Vehicles (EVs)
With zero tailpipe emissions and vastly lower running costs than traditional vehicles, EVs are a compelling alternative for most business needs. The UK government has been actively promoting EV adoption through grants and tax breaks, substantially sweetening the case for businesses to make the switch and/or get their employees to switch.
Companies like loveelectric.cars are making the transition to EVs easier and more affordable for business owners by offering a salary sacrifice scheme for used electric vehicles. The scheme helps employers save thousands of pounds on initial costs as well as provides them with a notable break on taxes. Employees can save up to 60% on an EV by leasing a car through these schemes.
Hybrid Vehicles
Combining an electric motor with a traditional internal combustion engine, hybrids offer huge fuel efficiency improvements and emissions reductions compared with traditional vehicles. This makes them an attractive option for businesses looking to ease into electrification gradually.
Micro-Mobility
The rise of micro-mobility solutions like e-bikes and e-scooters also offers an excellent option for short-distance commuting, especially in urban areas. Businesses can benefit from these affordable solutions by offering them as a part of the employee benefit package. These compact, zero-emission vehicles are a convenient and eco-friendly alternative to a car, mitigating both pollution and congestion.
Public Transport
Embracing established public transport infrastructure such as buses, trains, and trams can be a highly effective way for businesses to minimise their environmental footprint. Consider speaking with your local authority to see if they have discount annual public transport passes your staff can purchase as an employee benefit.
The Business Case for Sustainable Transport
Adopting sustainable transport choices delivers several benefits for businesses.
Cost Savings
The transition to EVs and the use of public transport can be accompanied by significant reductions in fuel consumption, lower maintenance, and reduced parking-related expenses. Government incentives, such as lower road tax fees, make the adoption of sustainable transport choices even more financially beneficial.
Enhanced Brand Image
Businesses cultivating a sustainable image can cash in on a huge competitive edge in order to attract a growing number of sustainability-conscious customers. Embracing eco-friendly practices can foster loyalty among such customers and help attract top talent who have bought into these values.
Increased Efficiency
Greater reliance on public transport systems tends to correlate with an improvement in the average speed at which employees can reach their destinations. More people using public transport translates into more investment by local authorities in the infrastructure of routes. Similarly, with EVs, you’ll typically have less regular maintenance costs, leading to lower downtime of your vehicle.
Enabling the Transition
One problem businesses face when adopting sustainable transport solutions is the perceived cost of initial investment in relation to EVs and other eco-friendly options. Another thing people worry about is the availability of charging infrastructure. Let’s look at why these are becoming less of a problem.
Initial Investment Costs
Exploring the various government incentives, such as business car tax breaks on ultra-low-emission vehicles (ULEVs), can make these initial investment costs far more palatable. Collaborating with companies like loveelectric.cars can help your employees save on initial costs with used EV cars, too.
Range Limitations & Charging Infrastructure
Generally, charging stations for electric vehicles are widely spread throughout the UK now. You can also fit charging infrastructure, either through on-site charging or by partnering with neighbouring businesses. For instance, Network Rail, the owner of most railway infrastructure in the UK, recently partnered up with BP Pulse, a leading charging infrastructure provider, to install rapid charging points on more than 20 railway stations across the UK.
Conclusion
By embracing sustainable transport solutions, businesses can help shape a greener Britain for future generations. As technology evolves, more efficient options will emerge, further incentivising businesses to make the switch. The time to act is now.
