The EV100 is a global business initiative designed to fast-track the uptake of electric vehicles (EV) and infrastructure.

The EV100 initiative brings together forward-looking companies committed to accelerating the transition to EVs, and making electric transport the new normal by 2030.

EV100 applies to battery electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids/extended range (minimum 30 miles/50km electric), and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

To join, companies are invited to make a public commitment to one or more of the following areas with a 2030 target date:

• Integrating electric vehicles into directly owned or leased corporate fleets.

• Placing requirements in service contracts for electric vehicle usage.

• Supporting staff to use electric vehicles by installing charging infrastructure at all premises.

• Supporting electric vehicle uptake by customers by installing charging infrastructure at all premises.

Electric transport offers a major solution in cutting millions of tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year, as well as curbing transport-related air and noise pollution. The transport sector is the fastest-growing contributor to climate change, accounting for 23% of global energy-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Road transport accounts for approximately 20% of the EU’s total emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2).

Globally, with businesses owning over half of all registered vehicles, it is crucial that companies lead the shift to electric vehicles. Through their investment, and influence on millions of staff and customers worldwide, they can address rising global transport emissions. Businesses can also significantly enhance mass demand for electric vehicles.

By setting out their future EV purchasing requirements on an ambitious timescale, companies can drive mass roll-out and make electric cars more rapidly affordable around the world.

LeasePlan Corporation N.V. announced in September 2017 in New York City that it would become a founding partner of EV100. The company also announced that it would transition its own employee fleet to electric cars – the first major fleet management company to do so.

LeasePlan is one of the 10 founding partners of EV100. Other EV100 partners are Unilever, Baidu, IKEA Group, HP Inc., Vattenfall, PG&E, Deutsche Post DHL, and Metro AG.

“Electric vehicles are ‘What’s Next.’ We’re therefore delighted to become a founding partner of the EV100 initiative and to work with some of the world’s largest companies on speeding up and facilitating the switch to electric mobility. Together, we can have a significant impact: over half the cars on the road today belong to companies. We encourage other companies to do the same: making the transition to an electric fleet is one of the easiest ways for businesses to lower their emissions and to help tackle climate change. LeasePlan is fully committed to facilitating other companies who would like to make that shift,” said Tex Gunning, chief executive officer of LeasePlan Corporation N.V.

LeasePlan is also developing a comprehensive offering to help its customers transition to electric vehicles.

“Making the transition to an electric fleet is one of the easiest ways for businesses to help tackle climate change,” said Gunning.

This is the only initiative of its kind to encourage global business commitments on electric transport, with members committing to transition their petrol and diesel fleets to electric vehicle fleets by 2030.