In 2022, Topspeed made a strategic decision to integrate electric vehicles into their fleet, introducing the ‘Topspeed Going Green’ logo.
This initiative marked the beginning of a significant shift towards sustainability and further decision was made to only buy electric vehicles going forward
As we recently took delivery of their 50th e-Vito, it became clear that we are no longer just ‘going green’ but are actively “driving sustainability” and as such we have evolved our ‘green’ logo to reflect this progress.
Building a Fully Electric Fleet
Looking back, the transition to a fully electric fleet was a carefully considered decision.
Extensive research was conducted to identify the right range of vehicles, assess the cost implications (and potential savings), consider the safety, as well as taking time to consult with our team of directly employed drivers.
Once the decision was made, substantial investments were made to adapt our business to accommodate an electric fleet. The in-house workshop was extended to include specialist equipment for maintaining the e-Vitos. Mechanics, managers and drivers underwent specialised training to effectively maintain, manage, and drive these vehicles, and our in-house training facility known as the Topspeed Academy developed new courses to incorporate the usage of electric vehicles.
Understanding Carbon Emissions
From the outset, we recognised the importance of understanding their carbon emissions.
We engaged industry experts Normative to use their Carbon Accounting platform for an independent analysis of our data.
This analysis, first conducted in 2020, encompasses all aspects of our business, from purchases to sales and customer journeys.
The exercise is repeated annually, and the Carbon Reduction Plan is updated accordingly. The latest version of the plan is available for review here.
Infrastructure and Operations
To support the electric fleet, a range of rapid charging points were installed at our Operations Hub in Winsford, and our drivers’ routes are meticulously planned to incorporate charging stations. This planning ensures that drivers can also take advantage of using the charging times for their rest periods. Recently the first charging point was installed at a driver’s home, and more will be installed across the UK soon.
Over the past two years, we have gained significant insights and now as standard we incorporate electric utilisation statistics within our monthly key performance indicators (KPIs) and we actively monitor the increase in electric usage compared to diesel as the electric fleet grows and our diesel fleet decreases.
Commitment to Sustainability
Stephen Clegg, Topspeed CEO, stated, “We truly believe that as a business, the ethos of ‘driving sustainability’ is now fully ingrained across all aspects of our operations, and it makes perfect sense to us that this is the right time to unveil the evolution of our ‘green’ logo.”
He added, “We feel we have shown our customers our commitment to being a sustainable business, though we fully accept that this is a long journey, and there is more we want to do, and can do, to improve over the coming years. So please do watch this space!”
Topspeed’s commitment to sustainability is not just a slogan, but is a core part of our business strategy, as demonstrated by our ongoing efforts and transparent reporting on progress.
For more information on Topspeed’s sustainability initiatives view our latest Carbon Reduction Plan.