Unipres UK saves 1m kilograms of CO2 as it celebrates 10 years of salary sacrifice EVs

Sunderland-based Unipres UK, which manufactures a range of press-formed automotive components for vehicle manufacturers, has saved 1m kilograms, around 1,000 metric tons, of CO2 since introducing an EV-based salary sacrifice scheme with Fleet Evolution.

Unipres took delivery of its first EV on the scheme in December 2012 with 20 vehicles delivered in March 2013, reflecting a strong EV focus which has continued ever since. As a result, the 1,000-employee business has seen carbon emissions on new additions to its salary sacrifice fleet fall to an average of just 11g/km of CO2.

Over the last decade the company’s carbon footprint from its employees’ personal motoring and commuting would have measured around 1,809,387,050 grams of CO2 or 1.8m kilograms had those who opted for its salary sacrifice scheme remained in their original cars.

But, with the Fleet Evolution scheme in place, carbon output has totalled around 764,269,541 grams or 0.76 million kilograms of CO2, a saving of over 1m kilograms or around 1,000 metric tons of climate- warming greenhouses gases.

Unipres UK now operates its vehicle fleet entirely on a salary sacrifice basis provided by Fleet Evolution, the Tamworth-based salary sacrifice and fleet management specialist, with all new vehicles joining the fleet currently being battery electric vehicles (BEVs) or plug-in hybrids (PHEVs).

Employees from machine operators to the managing director select vehicles through the scheme and, to encourage EV and hybrid uptake, Unipres has added several charge points in the corporate car park so that staff can recharge their vehicles while at work.

Director of Finance and Admin, Andrew Fawell, said that the company’s salary sacrifice car scheme had proved popular with staff as it opened-up the prospect of having a brand-new car at affordable prices to employees that would not qualify otherwise.

“The salary sacrifice model works very well for us, especially as Benefit-in-Kind tax rates are currently so beneficial, and it clearly helps us to meet our CO2 and corporate responsibility targets as shown by the CO2 savings we have achieved.

“At the same time, Fleet Evolution provides excellent service levels and takes away all the issues associated with the day-to-day running of our fleet,” he added.

Andrew Leech (pictured), founder and managing director of Fleet Evolution, said that the Unipres UK fleet was a shining example of how salary sacrifice could dramatically reduce the corporate carbon footprint for businesses and help with carbon reduction targets.

“EV salary sacrifice schemes are very carbon efficient as they promote low carbon vehicles across the board within a low tax environment. They are also an extremely valuable benefit to employees due to their convenience, ease of use, absence of upfront payments and value for money.”

The key features of the Fleet Evolution salary sacrifice scheme include all servicing and repair costs, road fund licence, fully comprehensive insurance, corporate discounts and no deposit. “These are major benefits for employees when they are faced with the current, much-publicised energy and cost of living crisis,” added Andrew Leech.