Royal HaskoningDHV believes the number of fully electric cars on the road is far below what it should be. The engineering and consulting firm is to boost figures with a Dutch pilot involving 26 cars that will result in a fully electric fleet of over 625 leased cars in the Netherlands. The pilot alone is expected to save 100 tonnes of CO2 per year.
On 10 October, Dutch Sustainability Day, Royal HaskoningDHV exchanged hybrid and fossil fuel leased cars from manufacturers such as Volvo, Toyota, Mercedes, Volkswagen, Peugeot and Lexus for 26 fully electric BMW i3 vehicles.
The pilot will provide a practical test of what it is like to drive 100 per cent electrically. In addition, it will assess the existing national network of charging stations – how they operate and whether the cars’ driving range is sufficient in practice. This will enable the company to formulate a strategy to convert its fleet of over 625 leased cars in the Netherlands to fully electric cars from 2020.
Sustainability
Royal HaskoningDHV has made the pilot available to all employees with a leased car in the Netherlands. Participation is voluntary and existing lease agreements have been renegotiated. The move to a 100 per cent electric car requires more deliberate driving behaviour and trip planning.
CEO Erik Oostwegel, who will be driving a BMW i3, explained that the decision to convert to a 100 per cent electric leased car fleet is a logical step. “We advise companies and government organisations on a broad range of services, in which sustainability is a key theme.
This makes sustainability a core business for us. Therefore implementing sustainability into our own business operations is a natural step. Our sustainable mobility consultants have provided advice for realising our ambition to have our entire leased car fleet 100 per cent electric where possible.”
Offering a Good Alternative
According to Royal HaskoningDHV, which this year celebrates its 135th anniversary, one of the most important conditions for creating a sustainable society is for individuals to have alternative choices, with minimal or no loss of personal convenience and driving pleasure.
BMW about the pilot
“Greening the fleet with fully electric cars substantiates BMW Group’s aim for sustainable mobility. Royal HaskoningDHV is a leading example here and it makes us very proud,” says Neil Fiorentinos, Managing Director at BMW Group Nederland. “The BMW i3 is an innovative car and represents a sustainable lifestyle – already for 1,600 drivers in the Netherlands.”
Alphabet Nederland about the pilot
Jorge Bautista, CEO Alphabet Nederland: “Many companies allow hybrid cars, often because of the current tax advantages. With 5 per cent of its fleet being fully electric, Royal HaskoningDHV is a laudable example for other companies to further green their fleet and mobility policy with the right motivation.”
There are currently almost 12,000 fully electric cars on the road in the Netherlands, up from around 6,800 at the end of 2014. The figure for hybrid cars is over 83,000 and has increased from nearly 37,000 since 2014. Figures from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) and the National Vehicle and Driving Licence Registration Authority (RDW).
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