Baidu, Deutsche Post DHL Group, Heathrow Airport, HP Inc., IKEA Group, LeasePlan, METRO AG, PG&E, Unilever and Vattenfall, as the first ten members of EV100, have all committed to making electric vehicles “the new normal”. The campaign is the first of its kind to utilise global business buying power to fast-track the electric vehicle roll out and address rising global transport emissions.
EV100 will be launched today at ‘VELOCITY - Accelerating Climate Action’, an event at Climate Week NYC and a partnership between The Climate Group, Formula E, VICE Impact and Spring Studios that will focus on championing climate commitments, including the promotion of EV100, to global businesses and governments.
The campaign is designed to fast-track the uptake of EVs and infrastructure by encouraging global business commitments on electric transport. Members will swap their large diesel and petrol vehicle fleets for electric vehicle fleets and/or install electric battery charging infrastructure by 2030.
“We want to make electric transport the new normal” said Helen Clarkson, Chief Executive Officer, The Climate Group. “There are two fundamental problems to be addressed. Transport is still the fastest growing area of carbon emissions, as the shift to electric vehicles is not happening fast enough; and mass system change, even with Government intervention, needs much greater customer demand. EV100 will use companies’ collective global buying power and influence on employees and customers to build demand and cut costs. The members being announced today see the business logic in leading a faster transition and addressing local air quality issues in their markets. They are setting a competitive challenge to the auto industry to deliver more EVs, sooner and at lower cost.”
Pia Heidenmark-Cook, Acting Chief Sustainability Officer, IKEA Group, IKEA, added that the group wants to show that a transition to electric vehicles is possible, bringing benefits for both the global climate and the local environment around IKEA stores.
By joining together, EV100 members will send a strong market signal that there is mass demand for electric vehicles by 2030 or before, well ahead of current forecasts for global uptake. These big purchasers can drive mass roll-out, reduce costs, and make electric cars more rapidly affordable for everyone around the world by setting out their future EV purchasing requirements on an ambitious timescale.
The Chinese tech giant Baidu’s membership of EV100 reflects China’s leading role on climate action and its presence as the world’s largest car market. It is urging other Chinese companies to follow its example. Baidu is also a world leader in the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI), and is developing future autonomous EV technology across the industry.
“We are delighted to be the first Chinese company to join EV100” said Wang Lu, Vice President of Baidu. “As one of the world’s leading IT companies, we are inspired to create a better future for all through technology innovation, and are committed to sustainability across our business operations. We have already made significant progress in promoting low carbon electro-mobility. We hope that other Chinese companies will follow our lead.”
International leasing company LeasePlan is committing to transition its own fleets as well as those of its customers as part of its ambition to achieve net zero emissions from the corporate automotive sector by 2030.
Deutsche Post DHL Group and the Swedish power company Vattenfall are also signing up to EV100 to build upon their ambitious electro-mobility targets. Vattenfall is working to transition its corporate fleet to EVs over the next five years while Deutsche Post DHL Group has invested in its own vehicle manufacturer StreetScooter to supply specialised postal vans for its operations.
HP Inc. has committed to roll out their progressive workplace charging scheme internationally. US utility PG&E, which has already heavily invested in EVs both for its customers and in its own operations, has committed to expand its engagement both on staff and customer charging. German retailer METRO AG has committed to supporting EV charging for their staff and consumers, benefitting the public as well as their business. Unilever and Heathrow Airport have pledged comprehensive action as part of their prominent corporate sustainability plans.
EV100 is being launched at a time when the transport sector is the fastest-growing global contributor to climate change, with businesses owning a significant portion of all registered vehicles on the roads. EV100 will draw on business leadership to accelerate the shift to electric transport and help to make electric vehicles “the new normal” by 2030. Campaign members recognise that transitioning to electric transport makes business sense. As well as helping deliver on sustainability goals, it will generate long-term savings while increasing competitiveness, and help to future-proof their operations.
Companies joining EV100 make a public commitment to fast-track EV uptake in one or more of four commitment areas by 2030. These commitment areas are integration of EVs directly into owned or lease corporate fleets; placing requirements in service contracts for EV usage; supporting staff to use EVs and supporting EV uptake by customers.
The Climate Group is a member of the We Mean Business coalition of nonprofits working with global businesses to take action on climate change. EV100 will be one of the We Mean Business coalition’s suite of commitments that together enable further, faster corporate action on climate change.
“The end of the internal combustion engine is inevitable” said Nigel Topping, Chief Executive Officer, We Mean Business. “Companies committed to EV100 send a powerful signal that adds to the chorus from states, cities and car makers that the transition to 100 percent electric vehicles will happen much faster than many had anticipated just a few years ago.”
‘VELOCITY – Accelerating Climate Action’, today’s launch event at Climate Week NYC, sees The Climate Group partner with Formula E, VICE Impact and Spring Studios to demonstrate the need for faster action, greater impact, and convergence across all sectors in the fight against climate change.
Formula E’s vision is that one day every car in the world will be electric, with the transition making a significant contribution to addressing challenges like climate change and inner-city pollution. Collaborating at a global level with multiple stakeholders, Formula E is offering a R&D platform to accelerate the rate of technology development and favouring a quicker and smoother transition toward clean energy.
Today Formula E is announcing The Climate Group as an Official and International Foundation Partner; the partnership will focus on championing EV100 to global businesses, building on Formula E’s global success in turning technology ambition into successful global sports events. Formula E will be a Global Ambassador for EV100.
VICE Impact is also joining The Climate Group and Formula E to announce a multi-year collaboration to drive forward the programme. VICE Impact will utilise its unique approach to information to help the partnership secure even greater numbers of businesses committed to EV100, and involve global audiences in following their progress from commitment to delivery and impact.
The event will also see further announcements and updates from The Climate Group's RE100 and EP100 campaigns and a US Climate Impact Debate.
VELOCITY was made possible with the support of The Climate Group, Formula E, VICE Impact, Spring Studios and Coldplay, who said: “We're proud to support EV100 and applaud the work of its members in realising a world where electric cars are the norm.”
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