Case Study: Babcock sparks EAV revolution

International defence company Babcock International, one of Plymouth’s largest employers, provides military and aerospace engineering, technology systems and manufacturing support across the globe.

One of the first defence organisations to gain validation from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) for science-based emissions reduction targets, Babcock has committed to net zero by making its environmental impact reports public, sharing its sustainability policy and making it a core part of the company’s ethos.

Plan Zero 40 and EAVs

With aims to reach net zero across its estates, assets and operations by 2040, and no later than 2050, transport is identified as a key component of Babcock’s net zero transition. Decarbonisation is focused on three key transport areas;

• Vehicle Fleet
• Business Travel
• Homeworking and Commuting

One such way that they have committed to reducing their carbon output is by the introduction of electric assisted vehicles (EAVs) and ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEVs) to replace diesel and petrol powered vehicles.

Electric assisted vehiciles, or EAVs (pronounced ‘eves’) bridge the gap between ebikes and vans, providing a safe and environmentally friendly alternative to diesel vehicles in the last few miles of transportation.

Some of the key benefits of Babcock’s EAV cargo bikes include:

Cost Effective

• Owning an EAV costs £11,000 compared to the £26,000 diesel van alternative.
• Maintenance and operations costs of EAVs are considerably lower than combustion vehicles such as diesel vans.

Sustainable

• The EAV cargo bikes produce zero emissions
• They can be charged by desktop
• Reduce use of fossil fuels

Adaptable

• Suits multiple needs
• Ability to access all areas due to being a ‘cycle’ that follows normal bicycle rules.
• Everyone can use the EAVs, whereas not everyone has a van license.

Safe

• Road legal
• Quadracycle for stability
• Weatherproof

An opportunity

As part of day-to-day operations in the dockyard, goods and materials are routinely transported about in diesel light goods vehicles (LGVs).

Transported goods often weigh less than 200kg and travel very short distances across the dockyard. The Supply Chain Transformation Team, led by Supply Chain Project Manager, Martyn Ruskin, spotted this as an early opportunity for decarbonisation.

Diesel light vans produced between 15 and 20 million tonnes of CO₂ in the UK in 2020. In Plymouth, transport is the highest producer of carbon at nearly a third (28%) of the city’s total emissions.

EAVs are becoming more common the business and commercial market, with DHL and Evri already using them for deliveries. According to Martyn, the greatest obstacle in making the change from diesel vans to electric vehicles was workplace cultures and mindsets.

The Solution

Tackling workplace culture

Speaking on the subject, Martyn is quick to understand that by nature we are people of habit, and as such there was resistance to changing from trusted diesel vans.

After securing the buy-in of a senior stakeholder, just one EAV was piloted in the dockyard. After an uptake in interest, and having got a few people on board, more EAVs were rolled out.

– Martyn Ruskin, Supply Chain Project Manager

– Dave Tytherleigh, Director of Procurement and Supply Chain

After tackling workplace culture, Babcock began its transition to a sustainable fleet of vehicles. Babcock aims to be 80% EV/EAV by 2030, and are currently on track to achieve this. Overall, they aim to be net zero by 2040.

For more information on Babcock’s commitment to sustainability, click here.