Tayside civil engineering contractor Kilmac is on the road to creating an all-electric fleet.
The firm has invested in 15 electric vehicles for management and engineers.
Fast charging points installed at their Gemini Crescent head office in Dundee and at employees’ homes.
New vehicles to benefit Kilmac employees
Kilmac managing director Athole McDonald is also keen to see the company’s fleet of vans go electric.
Mr McDonald said: “We operate in a sector of industry which recognises times are changing and we have to continue to reduce our CO2 footprint.
“The change of the fleet to electric is an effective and readily available way of doing this.
“The vehicles are slightly more expensive for the business but far more efficient for the employees, reducing their tax bill by thousands.
“We have 15 company cars, ranging from Kia and Tesla to Mercedes and Audi.
“These vehicles are the most advanced right now, in a price range of £45,000 to £75,000.”
Mr McDonald said the 15-strong fleet of electric vehicles was a “stepping stone” for the business, which has a headcount of about 130 following recent appointments.
He hopes Kilmac’s fleet of 50 vans can also make the switch in the next 12 to 18 months.
“The plan is to phase the replacement of older vans with electric options.
“In the meantime, we have recently replaced 16 of the diesel fleet with more energy efficient Renault Kangoos and Trafics.”
And longer-term, Mr McDonald hopes site plant can also be converted to electric power.
Kilmac has expanded its operations to Aberdeen and Edinburgh in recent years but remains headquartered in Tayside.
As well as its base in Dundee, the firm – which reported turnover of more than £13.2 million for 2020 – has offices in Perth.
A ‘forward thinking’ construction firm
Mr McDonald said: “It would be nice to think the excavators and site plant can also be fitted with batteries.
“They can provide the huge amount of power that is required, with site-based chargers.
“We already have a good track record in moving towards a position of being carbon neutral.
“This move towards electric vehicles takes us a step further down the line.
“We have long been involved in wind farm projects at Finavon in Angus and Glen Ullinish in the Isle of Skye which sit well within the corporate portfolio.
“We have always been forward thinking in terms of renewables and have delivered hydro and biomass schemes during the company’s history.”