Sky invests in 151 electric vans as part of net-zero ambition

Sky is integrating more than 150 Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vans (PHEVs) into its UK fleet, as part of its bid to become a net-zero business by 2030.

Sky has purchased 151 PHEVs from Ford, to be used by Sky’s engineers in the UK. The vehicles have a range of 35 miles under zero-emission circumstances while operating with a full load.

With Sky’s fleet accounting for 33% of the broadcaster’s overall carbon footprint, the new vehicles will deliver carbon reductions of 90g per km, equitable to a carbon saving of 60%.

The move will assist Sky’s net-zero ambition. The company has been operating as a carbon-neutral business since 2006.

Sky’s chief executive Jeremy Darroch said: “This is an exciting move towards our Sky Zero commitment to be net-zero carbon by 2030. The arrival of these Ford Transit Plug-In Hybrid Vans means we are cutting emissions today, while working towards finding 100% electric solutions for tomorrow.

“The great strength of our business is its ability to adapt to change, and responding to the growing climate emergency is no exception. We want to work with suppliers and the government to speed up the transition to net-zero fleets and ensure we have a strong charging infrastructure across the country.”

In February, Sky committed to reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2030 through strategies to make its products more energy efficient, its film and TV more sustainable and by engaging consumers and the value chain to “go zero”.

Sky’s commitment will see its entire fleet of 5,000 vehicles transition to zero emissions by 2030, alongside initiatives to make the technology products it offers and launches more efficient. TV and film recorded by the broadcaster will also be covered under the net-zero carbon ambition as well.

It binds Sky to reducing emissions from business operations, suppliers and customers (during the use of its products) by at least 50%, then investing in robust, nature-based offsetting schemes to address residual emissions. Sky has notably received carbon-neutral certification for its business operations every year since 2006 and has had its new targets approved in line with a 1.5C trajectory by the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi).

Sky has achieved carbon-neutral certification across the entirety of its original programme portfolio, after offsetting all emissions generated by the 41 shows it produced in 2019. The portfolio of shows, including Chernobyl and Brassic, has been certified by BAFTA’s Albert consortium, an organisation working to reduce the operational emissions of the TV industry and to change sustainability narratives on-screen.  

Matt Mace