A property maintenance firm based in Liverpool city region has taken delivery of its first electric vehicles with 25% of its 180-strong fleet set to be electric by the end of 2023. Tony McDonough reports

Property maintenance firm M&Y Maintenance and Construction says 25% of its 180-strong fleet of vehicles will be electric by the end of 2023.

M&Y, a division of Merseyside social housing group Regenda, has taken delivery of its first six electric vehicles. Its fleet is shared by other Regenda subsidiaries, including Regenda Homes and Redwing.

M&Y started off as a small family firm specialising in extensions and hard wood windows more than 40 years ago. In 1985 it secured its first social housing contract.

It won an £8m contract with Liverpool-based Regenda in 2007 and was acquired by the group in 2009. M&Y now turns over tens of millions of pounds each year and employs hundreds of people.

Aside from its investment into electric vehicles it is also looking to ‘green’ its conventional vehicles. 40% of the fleet now has AD Blue solution added to the fuel. This reduces harmful nitrous oxide by breaking it down into other gases that occur naturally in the atmosphere.

By the end of 2022, a further 128 (80%) of their vehicles will have been made compatible with AD Blue. They will also be upgraded with the latest Euro 6 engines, reducing carbon emissions.

M&Y is working towards having more than 50% of vehicles in its fleet electric by 2027.

The new electric vehicles are Renault Zoes which have a range of up to 245 miles and take just three hours to fully recharge. With no back seats, the vans have a large boot space and can be used as small vans.

Fleet manager Justin Toole said: “We are really excited to have our first six electric vehicles on the road. As a leading construction and maintenance company we make sustainability central to every project and service we provide.

“We’re proud to be able to add value for our clients and customers by providing a greener service. This will only get better as we make more improvements to the fleet and explore new technologies to reduce our carbon footprint.”

M&Y has also secured approval as a residential and commercial grant scheme installer of electric vehicle charging points. This scheme allows businesses and residents to install charging points at their properties at a heavily subsidised rate.

Director of operations Kevin Moses added: “We’re a forward-thinking business that is driven to create positive change. We’re reducing our carbon footprint, increasing recycling, and focusing on sustainable procurement.”