Introducing an electric fleet is another step towards reducing our carbon footprint at King’s. In the past few years, we have made significant progress on decarbonising our electricity supply, investing in on-site renewables and signing a Power Purchase Agreement with wind farms to supply nearly one-fifth of our annual electricity baseload. Being able to welcome the electric fleet across King’s is another step toward a net zero carbon future.”
Professor Frans Berkhout, Assistant Principal (King’s Climate & Sustainability)
13 May 2024
Driving towards sustainability: A new fully electric fleet of vehicles continues King's commitment to reducing carbon footprint
The new fleet will help accelerate King's commitment to a zero-emissions future.
In line with our Climate & Sustainability Action Plan, King’s is committed to embedding sustainability across the University through our research, teaching, operations and impact.
As part of our operational commitment to reducing our carbon footprint, King’s Estates & Facilities together with King’s Climate & Sustainability have taken the steps to swap current petrol and diesel vehicles with a new fully electric fleet. The new fleet comprises six new fully electric vehicles and have been seen on the roads of London since March 2024, supporting campus operations between our sites at Denmark Hill, Guy’s, Waterloo and Strand.
Professor Frans Berkhout, Assistant Principal (King’s Climate & Sustainability), said:
Sporting a distinctive green livery that feature messages from King’s Climate & Sustainability, the vans will serve as a tangible asset to showcase King’s commitment to net zero operations. The straplines and QR code will lead people to learn how they can get involved in sustainable actions as well as what King’s is doing to tackle the climate crisis. Completing their sustainability journey, the vans are wrapped in a fully recyclable self-adhesive film and liner, and after their lifespan the liveries will be fully recycled.
King’s Climate & Sustainability have worked in collaboration with Estates & Facilities and Brand & Marketing to commission the design. With a range of 180-200 miles/290-320 kilometres on a full charge, which is typical performance for one of the new vans, the switch to electric vehicles will help decrease King’s long-term carbon footprint in line with our Climate & Sustainability Action Plan.
Nick O’Donnell, Director of Estates and Facilities, said:
We are delighted to have introduced our new electric vehicle fleet for use on and around our campuses. These new vehicles represent another positive step toward reducing our carbon footprint at King’s. We have worked to source and wrap the new vehicles using fully recyclable self-adhesive film and liner which will now be seen across our campuses in their vibrant green branding showcasing King’s sustainability in action.
Nick O’Donnell, Director of Estates and Facilities
Our Climate & Sustainability Action Plan sets out 14 key impact areas to guide the University’s approach to sustainability and climate change, informed by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. It was reviewed and re-published in February 2024, with updated objectives, targets and KPIs. The Action Plan is underpinned by operational policies, systems and targets governed through our Environmental Sustainability Policy.
