Recognising an individual fleet manager working in a UK public sector organisation that can demonstrate success and innovation in its approach to fleet decarbonisation.
2023 Winner: Edward Yendluri, Westminster City Council
Westminster City Councils adopts a variety of alternative fuel technologies for its waste, cleansing, and recycling fleet. These include testing compressed natural gas (CNG), hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), and hydrogen, as well as upcycling old diesel trucks to fully electric vehicles and securing a large fleet of OEM full electric trucks. Edward Yendluri, the contracts manager with fleet management responsibility, has developed and delivered all these innovations and gained industry recognition by winning several national and international awards. Since 2020 to July 2023, Edward has successfully introduced 100 specialist street cleansing electric vehicles and 40 medium electric vehicles and 45 large 27 tonnes electric trucks along with a state-of-the-art smart charging infrastructure into the Westminster waste, recycling and cleansing fleet contract. Savings are over 3,500 tonnes of C02 emissions per annum. Edward led the electric depot project, which has highly sophisticated smart power balancing charging infrastructure for a fleet of 45, 27-tonne electric trucks. The power for the depot is procured from an energy from waste plant (EfW), where Westminster’s non-recyclable waste is incinerated to generate power via a private power purchase agreement. This model has no impact on the already congested inner London power grid and saves over 2,600 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.
Commended
Stewart Taylor, Police Scotland
Chris Demetriou, London Borough of Islington
2022 Winner: Chris Rutherford and Rob MacIntosh, London Ambulance Service
The London Ambulance Service have embarked on a major transition to a more sustainable and zero emission fleet, led by Chris Rutherford and Rob MacIntosh. Ambulances are the core vehicles at London Ambulance Service, with over 500 operating in London covering up to 50,000 miles per annum. The ambulances currently weigh five tons and are diesel powered. Following a significant investment and huge amount of innovation, London Ambulance Service has reduced the weight down to 3.5 tons, saving 30 per cent of the exhaust emissions. London Ambulance Service has purchased 59 lightweight ambulances and four fully electric ambulances, as well as 42 Ford Mustang Mach-E fully electric response cars. This is set to make it the largest fully electric response fleet in the country.
Highly Commended
Andrea McKenzie - Fleet Manager, Changeworks
Matt Ralfe - Innovation and Change Manager, Nottingham City Council
2021 Winner: Fraser Crichton - Dundee City Council
Commended
Chris Lane - University of Birmingham
Kevin Booker – Brecon Beacon Park Authority
Owain Pearce - ODS (Oxford Direct Services/Oxford City Council)
Tony Page - West Midlands Ambulance Service
2020 Winner: Jiggs Bharij - The Metropolitan Police
2019 Winner: Chris Lane - University of Birmingham
This years’ winner has taken over a role with some ambitious targets attached to it... to ensure that 40% of the fleet consists of alternatively fueled vehicles by 2020... And this was achieved THIS YEAR! When vehicles are in for service or repair, they have use of electric pool vehicles, to help push the technology and get staff used to it.
Commended
Andrea McKenzie - Changeworks
Fraser Crichton - Dundee CC
Nigel Morris – Swansea University Active Build Centre
2018 Winner: Terry Pycroft - Leeds City Council
Terry joined Leeds Council in February 2005 as Head of Fleet Services. A key priority was to establish an understanding of the fleet, so Terry initiated the first green fleet review through EST in 2007. This was later used as a key working document over the following years. Influencing others around alternative fuels has been a key task. Leeds ongoing commitment to fuel LGV Fleet with CNG has showcased the option to other authorities. Terry has been instrumental in explaining to senior management teams why the work needs their support.
Commended
Pat Taggart, Falkirk Council
Falkirk Council’s fleet of over 600 multi functional vehicles requires a keen eye to ensure that it runs efficiently. Through Pat Taggart’s passion for electric, the council now has 20 electric and hybrid vehicles ranging from Citroen C Zero’s, Kia Soul and Optima to Nissan eNV200 and Toyota Prius. The infrastructure has increased with an additional 14 charging points installed, allowing services to operate cars and vans from depots
Olivier Tang, Royal Borough of Greenwich
Fleet management in Royal Greenwich has undergone a number of changes and enhancements over the past few years, with the aim of surpassing compliance, improving safety and reducing its environmental impact. In early 2018, seven new fleet management policies covering areas such as dangerous and specialist goods and anti-idling were introduced.
Owain Pierce, Oxford Direct Services
Business, technological and environmental efficiencies have enabled Oxford to use its services for income generation without compromising its integrity for customers or the environment. Telematic use (currently on 122 vehicles) has achieved a 70% drop in environmental driving violations (harsh acceleration, idling etc) and CO2/fuel savings of more than 15% since inception. Oxford Direct Services is currently reviewing charging point upgrades to council depots for future proofing of the electrification of the fleet.
Nigel Morris, Swansea University
Swansea’s Sustainable Mobility Plan aims to reduce vehicle usage by promoting walking, cycling and mass transport. Car share, carpark permits and salary sacrifice schemes are all incentivised towards ZE/ULEV Vehicles, which have been present since 2013. Now in 2018, 60 per cent of the fleet is EV, covering over 125K local miles and saving 28,000kg of local CO2 emissions.
Ron Dovey, South Gloucestershire Council
To win minds internally around perception and use of electric vehicles, South Gloucestershire devised an internal communication campaign including advertising through the intranet in the run up to the change, news items encouraging staff to attend new vehicle demonstration days and/or enrol on familiarisation sessions. Staff with existing pool car bookings were targeted directly to enrol on a familiarisation session, supporting information on using the cars and connecting to charge points were created.
2017 Winner: Norman Harding - London Borough of Hackney
As well as the dedication and commitment to carbon reduction demonstrated by his work for Hackney Council, Norman Harding has continued to spread the carbon reduction massage to industry in general. Working as part of the London Mayor’s Biodiesel Programme, Norman has contributed to guidance notes on the GLA webpage, presented to freight operators at GLA/TfL events, and provided real world experience of biodiesel to formulate an information video. In partnership with TfL and LoCITY, Norman has pushed to introduce HVO as a viable alternative fuel for heavy vehicles, conducting emissions testing at Millbrook and demonstrating tail pipe reductions of CO (17%); CO2 (11%); PMs (33%) and NOx (69%). Norman also chairs a London based local authority network - Association of London Transport Officers (ALTO) - to help raise awareness of low carbon strategies.
Commended
Thomas Henderson - Fife Council
Fife continues to build on previous successes to ensure that it remains a top performing Council in Scotland. The Council currently operates 1496 vehicles in its fleet with an annual fuel bill is £4.6m. Fife’s fleet operations, led by Tom Henderson, have been a major catalyst for the rise in EV usage by the general public. Currently, the eFife charging network has 52 charging posts giving 104 charging facilities at 29 locations (22 are publicly available) strategically placed so that chargers are 10 miles apart. Initially, the majority of users were the Council’s own electric fleet, but in 2016, a total number of 20969 charging sessions took place across the Fife EV network, using nearly 149,500kWh of electricity. Charging EVs is still free to users in Fife. Under Tom Henderson, Fleet Operations are continually reviewing alternative fuel vehicles along with introducing the latest EV’s into the Council fleet, the latest of which is a Renault Zoe with a reported range of 200 miles.
Terry Pycroft - Leeds City Council
Leeds City Council needed alternatives to the standard diesel fleet. Terry Pycroft set about removing barriers, such as a lack of vehicles in the market and difficulty due to additional costs affecting business cases. The Council has a large number of EVs. A combination of vans and cars have been purchased through the authority’s own alternative fuel purchasing framework. These are being utilised in a wide range of council services including facilities management, city centre enforcement, cleaning, construction services and fleet safety. It is estimated that the vehicles will generate fuel savings of in excess of £25,000. Maintenance of the EVs is conducted in-house. All drivers were given vehicle familiarisation sessions from the council’s safety team as the vehicles started to be integrated into the fleet. Residents in Leeds who own ultra low emission vehicles can apply for a free 12-month permit, which can be used in pay and display bays on the street and in council run car parks.
2016 Winner: John Gorton - Kent and Essex Police
John Gorton is responsible for a huge fleet that deploys from 150 locations, across 3,075 square miles. Under his leadership, Transport Services has already delivered over £3m in fleet savings alone. As a proactive member of the National Association of Police Fleet Managers, John engages in several national working groups, including the standardisation of UK police vehicles. His commercial focus has captured the attention of both Chief Officer Boards, who have asked John to support the wider savings agenda using the same core fleet management principles and technology.
Commended
Tom Henderson – Fife Council
In October 2014, Fife Council’s Fleet Operations joined the ECOStars Fleet Recognition Scheme, which provides recognition, guidance and advice on operational best practice to operators of goods vehicles, buses and coaches. Since then, the fleet has seen continous improvement by introducing low carbon vehicles. Numbers currently stand at 26, including three hybrids which are supported by a portable EV charging unit. Additionally, Fife’s meals on Wheels service will be introducing its second electric van this year.
Graham Telfer – Gateshead Council
Graham’s knowledge of the practices and procedures which reduce fleet mileage has been put to good use by many organisations by across the country. Encouraged by the success of pioneering the use of bio-diesel (95/5 per cent blend) in the mid 90s, he was responsible for undertaking trials of an increased blend (80/20 per cent). The use of alternative fuels continued with LPG and the more recent introduction of various hybrid and electric vehicles. Currently, Graham is nvolved in the ZERE Project to help deliver range extended electric vehicles using hydrogen fuel cell technology.
Mark Armstrong-Read – Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust
DCHS has 2,000 grey fleet and lease cars. As sustainable travel lead, Mark Armstrong-Read has been responsible for many improvements during the last five years. Expansion of zero and ultra low emission vehicles now sees the Trust operate 12 hybrids (seven Outlander PHEVs, four Yarises and one Auris) alongside seven Aygos and three Nissan e-NV200 electric vans. Lease car policy changes included incentives for cars below 110g/km. Average CO2 of new lease cars in last 12 months is 102.5g/km compared with the national average of new UK cars of 121.4g/km.
Ian Bourton – Oxford City Council
Ian has restructured the fleet operations at Oxford City with efficiency, quality and environmental benefits at the forefront of his objectives. With a fleet of over 320 road registered vehicles and 350 trailers and plant, the latest technology and a robust procurement strategy have brought step change to the fleet operation. Cost savings have exceeded £100,000 to date and continue to fall. Ian and his team will continue to introduce fleet initiatives. Recent successful ULEV bids will lead to a comprehensive charging site infrastructure in Oxford for EV owners, along with a hydrogen fuel filling station.
2015 Winner: Bob Murphy - Edinburgh College
This years’ winner has overseen the introduction of 10 electric vehicles, including 2 electric pool cars, plus an electric minibus. The cars have covered a distance of 100,000 miles to date and saved around 32 tonnes of CO₂.
Commended
Graham Telfer, Gateshead Council
Gary McRae, Dundee City Council