ESB Networks has stepped up its effort to decarbonise its yellow van fleet with a major investment.

The business has purchased 70 full electric commercial vehicles, which will be added to the fleet throughout 2019/2020 and are estimated to offset 170 tonnes of carbon annually by phasing out diesel in ESB Networks' small van fleet. The Nissan ENV200s will be deployed nationally to replace small diesel equivalents working in the areas of metering and stores.

Announcing the investment, Environment Minister Richard Bruton said: "The Climate Action Plan commits to a really significant step up in electric vehicle use. Our public sector must lead by example if we are to persuade the rest of society to make the changes required. I welcome that the ESB are committed to a 100% carbon emissions free fleet and are making a start with today's announcement. It is vital to show leadership in this area. This will cut greenhouse gases, improve air quality and demonstrate what can be done to other sectors."

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Paul Mulvaney, Executive Director, Customer Delivery ESB Networks, added: "This represents a step in the right direction for ESB Networks. We have conducted market research as well as extensive trialling to ensure that we are not compromising daily range nor our load capacity. We are delighted to be in the position to begin phasing out our diesel fleet and we will continue to explore the options available to us to increase our commercial EV numbers, as well as reducing our overall carbon footprint across the business. We are playing a pivotal role in paving the way for a greener society through an ever-cleaner electricity system, so we want to make sure that we are doing our part across all our operations."

(CM/JG)