Wiltshire Council’s ambitious fleet electrification programme is delivering significant carbon reductions and financial savings, supported by data-led planning, staff upskilling and resilient charging infrastructure. LAPV reports.
Wiltshire Council’s fleet electrification programme is proving that local authorities can deliver meaningful carbon reductions and real financial savings at the same time. With more than half of its baseline fleet now electric, the council has not only cut emissions but also banked more than £50,000 in annual savings, demonstrating a clear return on investment even at this early stage of the transition.
The pace and scale of Wiltshire’s shift to electric vehicles places it among the most advanced county-level programmes in the UK, and its model offers valuable lessons for councils wrestling with decarbonisation targets, budget constraints and operational continuity.
According to Cllr Martin Smith, Cabinet Member for Highways, the council’s investment in electric and hybrid vehicles is ‘not only helping us meet our carbon-neutral pledge by 2030, but it’s also delivering financial benefits.’
As of 2025, 94 electric vehicles make up 54% of the council’s 2023 baseline fleet, a good proportion for a rural and geographically dispersed county authority. This shift has already generated £54,000 in financial savings this year, with projected savings rising to £114,000 in 2025/26. The savings stem from lower energy costs, reduced servicing needs, and the operational efficiencies that EVs bring.
The carbon impact is equally striking. The council’s core fleet is now travelling more EV miles than fossil fuel miles, delivering an average monthly carbon saving of 11 tonnes of CO2 equivalent. This trajectory places Wiltshire firmly on track to meet its 2030 carbon pledge.
Wiltshire’s progress stands out against a national backdrop of long lead times and rapidly shifting EV technology. Cllr Smith notes that the transition has been ‘relatively smooth, despite challenges such as vehicle lead times and rapidly evolving technology,’ adding that the market is now beginning to stabilise.
Much of this smooth transition is owed to the council’s strategic use of telematics data, which informs which vehicles are suitable for EV replacement. This data-led approach ensures that decisions reflect real-world mileage, duty cycles and onsite charging availability, avoiding unnecessary risks and maximising return on investment.
One of Wiltshire’s most significant achievements has been the rollout of low-powered overnight charging across multiple council sites. This design choice delivers several benefits:
• It avoids costly power upgrades
• It enables vehicles to charge predictably within existing grid capacity
• It provides operational resilience during power disruption
By spreading charging across locations and using lower-capacity overnight options, the council has tried to future-proof its core fleet against grid pressure and infrastructure outages.
Electric vehicles have also reshaped the council’s approach to fleet maintenance. EVs require fewer routine service items, creating simpler and more predictable maintenance cycles. Cllr Smith highlights that ‘all our mechanics have been trained to maintain electric vehicles,’ ensuring that the fleet can be serviced in-house without dependency on external providers or dealer networks.
Wiltshire’s electrification programme extends beyond its own fleet. The council has supported local communities by providing grants to town and parish councils to install EV charge points, widening public charging availability across rural areas and market towns. This community-led approach helps encourage EV adoption beyond the council’s operations, amplifying the environmental benefits across Wiltshire. The council is also ‘sharing best practice with other councils to encourage wider adoption,’ positioning itself as a leader and champion for EV transition across the sector.
While EVs dominate Wiltshire’s current fleet solution, the council is actively exploring emerging technologies. Trials have already taken place on vehicle-to-grid (V2G) charging, battery applications, and biofuels, providing insight into alternative power and storage solutions.
Significantly, the council is also in discussions with a proposed hydrogen supplier for Wiltshire, recognising that certain fleet applications may require power sources beyond battery-electric.
As councils across the UK work toward 2030 carbon targets, Wiltshire offers a compelling roadmap—one that blends technological ambition with practical, grounded operational planning.
