Across the UK, local councils are forging their own paths toward fleet electrification, but operating separately is holding us back. Each council independently developing infrastructure, clean energy projects, and fleet strategies isn't just inefficient, it’s costly and limiting.

At Islington Council we've made significant strides in electrifying our fleet, achieving one of the highest proportions of electric vehicles (EVs) in the public sector nationwide. Currently, over 25% of our fleet is electric, substantially reducing both emissions and operational costs. This has been driven by a focused strategy, backed by substantial investments – £38m dedicated to an 11-year fleet replacement programme and £6m specifically for EV infrastructure.

But despite these successes, isolated actions aren't enough. For councils across the UK to realistically electrify the majority of their fleets by 2030, a radical shift in approach is essential.

To start with, collaboration across borders is vital. Councils must come together to share infrastructure, procurement processes, and best practices. By pooling resources, we can significantly reduce costs, accelerate deployment, and eliminate duplication. At Islington, we have seen firsthand the benefits of cooperation, initiating discussions with Transport for London (TfL) and other council contractors about sharing EV infrastructure. However, collaboration can go further – stretching across neighbouring councils and institutions.

Engaging with the private sector is also crucial. Councils can form partnerships with commercial fleet operators, sharing substantial upfront costs associated with infrastructure development and creating revenue-generating opportunities. At Islington, we're already exploring initiatives that allow private commercial organisations to access our EV charging infrastructure, increasing utilisation and sustainability while providing additional income.

Additionally, embracing Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology must become a priority. At our Waste Recycling Centre (WRC), which is one of the largest indoor charging hubs in the country, we've laid the groundwork with a 1MW bi-directional charger that both distributes and collects vehicle charge. Our vision for this facility is ambitious – transforming it into a micro-grid powered by solar panels, battery storage, and V2G technology, turning our fleet into an active energy asset and potentially using energy itself as a tradable commodity.

The health benefits of fleet electrification cannot be overstated. The alarming rise in respiratory illnesses, particularly among children in urban areas, underscores the urgent need for councils to accelerate their decarbonisation plans. In Islington, transitioning just 25% of our fleet has already led to a reduction of around 800 tonnes of CO2 emissions in the past year alone.

Yet, if councils persist with fragmented, siloed strategies, our collective ambitions will stall. Achieving widespread fleet electrification demands a fresh commercial perspective and the willingness to build new kinds of partnerships. It's time for councils to think differently, viewing electrification not merely as an environmental duty, but as an opportunity to collaborate, generate income, and fundamentally reshape the public sector’s relationship with energy.

I'll be discussing these ideas in more depth at the Commercial Vehicle Show at the NEC, Birmingham, from 29 April – 1 May. This conversation about the future of fleet electrification is one every council should join – because our shared success hinges on collaboration.

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