Mitie has launched the next stage of its electric vehicle (EV) commitment, with its first electric vans hitting UK roads this week.

Its new vans will join the 98 electric cars that its fleet already has.

The company committed to switch 20% of its cars and small vans to electric by 2020, with 200 EVs set to be on UK roads by the end of 2019, and another 300 set to follow in early 2020.

Simon King, Fleet and Procurement Director, Mitie, said:“We’re delighted to see Mitie’s first-ever electric vans join our fleet, as our electric vehicle commitment rapidly becomes reality.

“Given that we run one of the UK’s largest fleets, with our 20% by 2020 pledge I’m proud that we’ve already set an ambitious target that sees us at the forefront of EV adoption.

“While we’re well on track to meet our goals, we all need to go further faster, if we want to limit the impact on climate change.

“We’re already looking ahead past cars and small vans, to see how we can get every other Mitie vehicle, from larger vans to scaffolding trucks and gritters, switched to electric as soon as possible.”

Mitie aims to have the UK’s largest fleet of EVs by the end of 2020, however, it is also helping with the UK’s charging conundrum, by installing roughly 800 electric vehicle charge points at the homes of its employees, offices and customer bases.

Its fleet is responsible for 93% of its carbon emissions, meaning its switch to EVs will reduce its carbon footprint.

The 20% commitment will save 4,000 tonnes of CO2 a year.

Mitie has also joined EV100, stating that its fleet will consist of all EVs by 2030.

It was recently awarded gold certification for its CO2 reduction by Masternaut.