Sodexo Defence catering goes electric

Published on 29/08/2012

Sodexo Defence has taken delivery of Sodexo's first electric retail vehicles as part of a programme to reduce its fuel consumption and carbon footprint.

The two vehicles, which are noise and C02 emissions-free, are mobile catering vans designed to offer hot and cold snacks and drinks. They have been leased from supply chain partners Goupil.

They will service the Royal Navy's Air Stations, Culdrose in Cornwall and Yeovilton in Somerset, which are among the busiest airfields in the UK. They are home to the Fleet Air Arm's front-line and training squadrons, hundreds of aircraft and helicopters, and thousands of personnel - air and ground crew - plus civilian staff. The electric vehicles will be providing scheduled services at aircraft hangars and workshops located away from Sodexo's main catering, retail and leisure facilities as well as making stops around the air stations on request.

The introduction of the vehicles supports Sodexo's commitment to reduce its carbon footprint as part of its sustainability strategy to 2020, the Better Tomorrow Plan, and is in line with the Ministry of Defence's own environmental policies.

Sodexo Defence, which provides high quality support services on military bases, currently operates a mixed fleet of more than 200 vehicles around the UK and is introducing electric vehicles to help protect the environment, reduce costs and to provide a better service to its customers. Last year, Sodexo Defence took delivery of its first eight electric utility vehicles for cleaning and laundry services. There is a total of 10 electric vehicles currently in use within the business.

Trials at Aldershot Garrison and the Defence School of Transport last year, showed that replacing traditional diesel-powered vehicles with electric equivalents saw a 90% reduction in diesel costs; carbon emissions were reduced to zero; maintenance costs were more than halved and significant savings were made on both road tax and insurance costs; and exhaust fumes were eliminated from the clients' premises.