Hull City Council has been shortlisted in the prestigious national Green Fleet Awards 2021.
The Green Fleet Awards recognise public and private sector vehicle fleet operators that are leading the way in tackling climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality.
There are a range of different awards and Hull City Council, along with ODS (Oxford Direct Services/Oxford City Council) and West Midland Ambulance Service, has been shortlisted for Public Sector Commercial Fleet of the Year in the medium to large category. This is for fleets with more than 300 vehicles and can demonstrate a reduction in emissions through fuel efficiency, green fleet management and driver awareness training.
In 2019, transport was the largest emitter of greenhouse gases producing 27% of the UK’s total emissions [1].
Hull City Council operates one of the largest fleets in the region with over 300 cars, vans, trucks, special purpose vehicles and buses delivering a wide range of services to the people of Hull, including waste management, children services and parks. The fleet is leased and maintained by the wholly owned council company Kingstown Works Ltd (KWL).
In the last 12 months, the council has doubled the number of Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) to 34 with the aim that, where feasible, all cars and vans under 3.5 tonnes, which make up most of the fleet, will become electric by 2025, replacing older greenhouse gas-emitting diesel and petrol vehicles.
This is expected to cut the council’s overall greenhouse gas emissions by 1.25%, saving around 210 tonnes of carbon, as well as improving air quality and reducing vehicle maintenance costs. Hull City Council announced last week that air quality in Hull has been steadily improving since 2016 and is expected to continue to get better.
Cllr Rosie Nicola, Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services, Hull City Council said:
“I am thrilled that Hull City Council has been shortlisted for the prestigious national Green Fleet Awards. It demonstrates the extent of the ongoing action being taken by the council to combat climate change and our serious commitment to creating a zero-emission fleet. As one of the largest fleet operators in the region, we have a responsibility to lead by example and set the standard for alternatively fueled vehicles; and we are doing just that.”
The final will take place on Wednesday 1 December 2021 at the British Motor Museum in Warwick.
Hull City Council declared a Climate Emergency in 2019 and produced a Climate Change Strategy in 2020. The council aims to become carbon neutral by 2030.
[1] Statistical Release, Department for Transport, Transport and Environment Statistics 2021 Annual Report.
