Zip Water, an award-winning water appliance company, is making strides toward a more sustainable future by embarking on a category leading trial to shift its motor vehicle fleets in Australia from diesel to electric. This move aligns with the company's commitment to environmental responsibility, reducing its carbon footprint, and embracing innovative technologies.

In the United Kingdom, Zip has successfully converted 52% of its fleet to electric vehicles, setting a target to achieve 100% conversion by 2027. However, the landscape in Australia and New Zealand presents unique challenges with limited availability of electric and hybrid vehicles meeting the company's servicing requirements, along with a shortage of necessary charging infrastructure.

"We have been closely monitoring the rise of electric vehicles abroad, and now manufacturers are beginning to introduce electric vans in Australia. The challenge lies in the ongoing development of infrastructure for these vehicles.” says Mike Abbott, Managing Director ANZ Zip Water.

Recognising the potential for growth and improvement, Zip is launching a trial in Australia, starting with the purchase and registration of an electric van for the Canberra region. The first 12 months will see the van used by Zip Water technicians as a hands-on experience, allowing them to participate in using the Electric Vehicle, instead of diesel vans. This initiative aims to familiarise employees with electric vehicles, and collect feedback and data, from driving through to charging, and servicing to understand how EVs have into their daily routines.

Throughout 2024, the electric van will also be based in New South Wales, offering an opportunity for local teams to engage in the EV experience. This initial trial will then enable, the trial to extend to Brisbane, Canberra, and Melbourne, providing teams in these locations with firsthand exposure to electric vehicle operations.

"Sustainability is unquestionably a key goal for our business, one we are actively pursuing. However, until now, we lacked the necessary tools to implement the vehicles to enable our team to perform their tasks safely. We are leaders in our market for this change and are working across sectors to build a sustainable fleet,” Abbott said.

Looking ahead to 2024 and 2025, Zip anticipates the continued introduction of electric vans in the Australian market, offering increased range and capacity. The valuable insights gained from this ongoing trial will therefore play a crucial role in enabling Zip Water to integrate further electric vehicles into the company's fleet.

Zip Water Australia is committed to being at the forefront of sustainable practices within its industry. In 2023, the company launched its first Sustainability Report with reference to the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards and United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This trial represents a significant milestone in the journey towards lowering Zip’s scope one emissions and an overall shift into a greener, more environmentally conscious future.