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Network access provider Openreach (BT) has today revealed that they’ve just put their 5000th EV (Electric Vehicle) on the road to support their broadband and phone engineers (up from 4,300 at the start of 2025). The move marks a key milestone on their plan to become carbon-neutral by March 2031.
The operator, which manages the second-largest commercial vehicle fleet in the UK (i.e. 23,000 vehicles), are currently aiming to upgrade the “vast majority” of their diesel-powered vans and cars to EVs by the end of March 2031 (supporting their Net Zero target for the same date). Openreach claims the 5,000 confirmed today are expected to save more than 10,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually.
To support the transition, Openreach have been installing EV charging points at operational sites and engineers’ homes to support convenient overnight charging. So far, over 2,500 chargers have been installed, making the shift to electric smoother and more accessible for engineers across the UK.
The company has also previously built a partnership with First Bus, so engineers can charge their vans at First Bus depots, taking pressure off public charging points and making life easier for those who live in flats. Most of the network operator’s latest EVs have come from four manufacturers – Ford, Stellantis, Toyota, and Renault (BT and Openreach have previously also purchased some EVs from Vauxhall).
Clive Selley, CEO of Openreach, said:
“As we continue our work to connect homes and businesses to the UK’s most reliable broadband technology, we also want to help build a cleaner, greener future.
We know the impact our operations have, so seeing our 5,000th electric van on the road is a proud moment for everyone at Openreach. By continuing to upgrade our fleet, and by installing EV chargers in our engineers’ homes and our operational sites – we’re removing barriers to adoption, improving air quality, and supporting the communities we serve.”
Openreach now expects to add a further 2,000 EVs to its fleet by the end of March 2026, as well as ongoing investment in charging infrastructure.