Charging Ahead with Green Transport

Demand for electric access points across the Midlands is only set to increase as growing numbers of electric vehicles take to the UK’s roads, and one forward thinking business, Oakland International, not only purchased an electric car, but also installed a public charging access point, having been approved under the Midlands Plugged in Places scheme. Kath Turner, Oakland International’s Renewable Project Coordinator, explained the company’s electric strategy: “There has been an interest in electric vehicles for some time now, so the Nissan Leaf is a good first step to testing the technology in a business setting. “Having won the BITC carbon reduction award, the car forms part of our overall energy saving strategy. There are no carbon emissions, and we intend using it as a company pool vehicle, with staff charging it after trips via the public charging point.” With a longstanding history of utilising environmental and green technologies where possible, at the firm’s HQ in Redditch the Nissan Leaf will help evaluate and test the technology to see if it fits with their daily business needs. Emphasising though that it’s not just for environmental reasons, but also the savings the new electric car will deliver. Although they do their utmost to utilise environmental technologies whenever possible, it also has to make good business sense, being both environmentally friendly as well as a key driver in making the business more efficient. By going electric Oakland envisage a number of other benefits being derived by staff, and by the region and wider communities, with the opportunity to assess the car’s capabilities and provide reassurance with regard to range in miles, speed and also the positive look of the car; a green form of transport that reduces everyone’s carbon footprint through zero carbon emissions based on the car travelling on average 10,000 miles per year, Oakland International anticipate saving around *2500 kgCO2/yr. Although only one car at present, it forms part of the company’s overall move towards carbon neutrality; improving the environment, reducing reliance on petrol or diesel vehicles, with the long-term intention to purchase further cars in the future. <Ends> Image:  Renewable Project Coordinator Kath Turner sitting in Oakland International’s new electric car. Editors Notes: *Figure stated is based on possible CO2 imitations saved based on a 1.6 petrol car rating at 149 CO2 g/km against an electric car rated at zero emissions. Oakland International is a multi temperature supply chain specialist in warehousing, distribution and logistics which has depots in the UK and Ireland, and encompasses Oakland Distribution. Multi-award wins include the Business in the Community Award for Carbon Reduction, the award for Best Logistics at Ireland’s Checkout National FMCG Awards as well as the UK Business Initiative of the Year award at The Grocer Gold Awards 2011. Key industry associations include; British Frozen Food Federation (BFFF), Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD), Road Hauliers Association (RHA), Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), Food Storage and Distribution Federation (FSDF) and a member of the Chamber of Commerce for Herefordshire and Worcestershire, and accredited by the British Retail Consortium (BRC). Company details:       Oakland International Limited UK: +44 (0) 1527 596 222 Ireland: +353 (0) 1835 4855 e: sales@oakland-international.com   www.oakland-international.com twitter: @OaklandIntUK For all Oakland International press and media enquiries, in the first instance please contact: Kathryn Watts t: +44 (0) 7970 547469 e: k.watts@evopr.com