A Dorset-based civil engineering and construction group is saving tonnes of CO2 emissions a year after adopting electric vehicles into its fleet.
Suttles, which employs almost 100 members of staff across four sites in Poole and Swanage, has purchased 13 electric and hybrid vehicles over the past year, with plans to extend this further in 2020.
Included in this number are seven fully electric vehicles (EV’s) from brands such as Tesla, Jaguar, Volkswagen and Peugeot with another being purchased at the end of this year, as well as five plug-in hybrids (PHEV) and one regenerative hybrid. The newest additions are two fully electric Peugeot vans which will reduce their emissions in the Poole area.
These vehicles combined are estimated to be saving around 30 tonnes of CO2 and 218kg of NOx emissions per annum compared to the petrol and diesel vehicles they have replaced.
Operations Director John Suttle voiced his thoughts on the subject: “My experience tells me that the cars and vans that we have invested in do herald a new benchmark for transportation in terms of their reduced impact on the environment and health, but also safety. I think that modified driving techniques in terms of maximising range and regeneration and taking charge breaks will, in time, lead to less accidents.”
With the recent growth of the Suttles Group, they continually strive to minimise any negative impact they may have on the environment and this year saw Suttles accredited to ISO standards, a huge achievement meaning the company meets internationally recognised standards for its environmental management systems. Further recognition of the drive to continually improve on emissions reductions came from FORS (Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme) with renewal of the companies’ Silver accreditation.
John Suttle added: “Personally I’ve long been an advocate of the view that on a very basic level, humans could and should be generating and using energy more efficiently. As a business I think we’ve been making more progress in this regard since we obtained Swanworth Quarry in 2011. The difference we can make right now is limited but we aren’t finished just yet.”
Suttles operate two quarries in Purbeck; Swanworth Quarry in Worth Matravers, California Quarry in Swanage as well as a recycling and merchanting depot at Mannings Heath Road, Poole. Over the last decade they have integrated a specialist civil engineering group, named Suttle Projects. These elements blend well together and bring new possibilities since Suttle Stone Quarries was originally founded in 1993.