Case Study: Fleet Decarbonisation at Salford City Council

For many councils, fleet operations represent one of the largest sources of direct carbon emissions. In Salford, fleet emissions accounted for 16% of our Scope 1 and 2 emissions in 2024/25. With growing policy pressures, our carbon neutrality target, and rising operational costs, the need for a long‑term, strategic approach to fleet management has never been more critical.

Driving Innovation Through the Fleet Transformation Programme

At Salford City Council, our Fleet Decarbonisation Programme forms part of a broader ambition to modernise operational services and embed sustainability into everyday decision‑making.

Funded through a combination of capital investment and operational savings generated by electric vehicles, the programme enables us to trial emerging technologies and identify scalable, practical solutions across service areas.

Our approach is structured around six key elements:

1. Advice - Visiting other councils and organisations already operating electric fleets has allowed us to learn valuable lessons, understand real‑world performance, and inform our own transition plan.

2. Trial - We actively seek opportunities to trial a wide range of electric vehicle (EV) types—from vans to specialist vehicles—to ensure they meet operational requirements before progressing to procurement. This allows our operatives to feedback on performance and get their buy in.

3. Business Cases - Robust business cases are developed for each vehicle type. These assess whole‑life costs, demonstrating where EVs provide financial and operational benefits over diesel equivalents, and supporting investment decisions.

4. Long‑Term Planning - We analysed future fleet requirements, depot capacity, and available electricity supply to ensure our infrastructure can support long‑term demand.

5. Site Preparation - We are undertaking phased installation of EV chargers, expanding Solar PV capacity, and improving data collection to build a strong foundation for future adoption.

6. Strategic Alignment - Trials, procurement, and infrastructure installation are aligned with the natural renewal cycle of the fleet—maximising value and minimising disruption.

This structured, evidence‑driven approach allows us to understand real‑world performance, operational constraints, and workforce feedback, ensuring decisions are rooted in practicality.

Rethinking Traditional Fleet Models

Diesel has been the default for many decades, but this is increasingly unsustainable it is:

• Carbon‑intensive, contributing significantly to organisational emissions
• Costly, particularly as fuel prices fluctuate, including alternative fuels such as HVO
• Operationally restrictive, with tightening environmental standards and air‑quality obligations

Fleet decarbonisation is not simply an environmental ambition, it is fundamental to delivering resilient, affordable, and future‑proof public services.

Supporting Communities and Enabling Wider Benefits

The benefits of fleet decarbonisation extend far beyond emissions reduction. Across Salford, our transition is already contributing to:

• Improved air quality
• Reduced noise pollution - with EVs operating far more quietly during early morning collections
• Improved working conditions for operatives
• Enhanced public confidence - demonstrating visible leadership on climate action
• Workforce development - as teams gain experience with new technologies, systems, and operational practices

These wider social and environmental benefits strengthen our case for continued investment and support Salford City Council’s sustainability ambitions.

Looking Ahead

To date, we have installed over 20 EV chargers across four sites and deployed 29 electric vehicles—representing 17% of our total fleet. This includes car‑derived and panel vans, a sweeper, a tipper, and a refuse collection vehicle.

Looking forward, we plan to purchase an additional 16 EVs in 2026/27, taking our electric fleet to over 26%, alongside continued expansion of our charging infrastructure. Decarbonising our fleet is a long‑term journey requiring collaboration, innovation, and continual learning. By partnering with APSE, sharing lessons learned with others, and taking a proactive approach, we are building a fleet that is not only cleaner—but smarter, more efficient, and more resilient for the future.