Sustainable business transport

Electric vehicles and charging infrastructure

Tees Valley is one of the most carbon-intensive regions in the UK, with emissions per capita over twice the national average. There needs to be a focus on accelerating the reduction in carbon emissions from road transport. Key to this will be increasing the uptake and usage of electric vehicles (E Vs).

Choosing an EV can have financial benefits alongside those for our environment. E Vs often have lower servicing and maintenance costs and they are cheaper to refuel than their petrol and diesel counterparts. You can read about the benefits of E Vs at the Energy Saving Trust Electric Vehicles webpage or read a guide on how to set up E Vs for your business at the Electric Car Guide website.

The government's Workplace Charging Scheme can cover up to 75% of the purchase and installation costs of electric vehicle charge points for registered businesses, charities and public sector organisations. Find out more at the Gov.uk Workplace Charging Scheme webpage.

There is electric vehicle charging infrastructure across Tees Valley that has evolved over time. The infrastructure is located on a variety of sites, including local authority car parks, businesses, petrol stations, supermarkets, hotels, educational establishments and health care facilities. A plan to develop and enhance this infrastructure can be read on the Tees Valley Combined Authority website.

Costs for electric vehicles

Visit the GoCompare electric car changing calculator  for an interactive cost of charging calculator tool to help you understand the real costs and benefits to using electric vehicles.

Car sharing and reducing corporate travel

Businesses can think about ways they can reduce the number of their staff using cars to travel to work to reduce carbon emissions. Employers could implement schemes to encourage their staff to car share or consider alternative ways to travel to work, e.g. public transport, cycling or walking.

Go digital and work from home

Businesses can consider options for their staff to work from home to reduce traffic congestion and carbon emissions.

Agile and flexible working arrangements mean that many employers are encouraging hybrid working arrangements, for example 2 or 3 days in the office and the other days working at home.

Many tasks, meetings and contact can easily be done from home with many employers reporting greater productivity from their staff and giving staff the flexibility to work their hours in a more efficient way whilst also resulting in reduced emissions.

Tees Flex bus service

Tees Flex is an on-demand bus service available across Tees Valley, making bus travel easier and more flexible than ever for you and your staff.

Using the Tees Flex app (iOS and Android), you can hail a vehicle directly from your smartphone. The app directs you to a nearby 'virtual bus stop' within a short walking distance for your pick-up and drop-off points - taking you where you like, when you like!

Find out more at the Tees Flex website.

Cycling and walking

Promoting active and sustainable travel are important priorities for businesses which will help to limit carbon emissions, reduce traffic congestion, and promote healthy lifestyles. This can be achieved through encouraging greater use of the footpaths across the Borough, and the cycleways and bridleway networks.

The Stockton-on-Tees Active Travel Hub is there to make it easier for people to walk and cycle around the Borough. It provides secure cycle parking and it also provides free bike servicing. Visit The Hub Stockton's website for more information, where you'll also find maps of cycle and walking paths in the Borough.

The Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan outlines ways to make walking and cycling easier, as set out in the Government's Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy. Read the TVCA's Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan.

Wheels 2 Work Scheme

The Wheels to Work project helps people from age 16+ who do not have access to a car or bike, or who cannot make the journey by bus or train, to get to their job or a college. This Tees Valley scheme can hire an electric motorbike, or e-bike, to eligible individuals. It also provides necessary safety equipment and training.

Visit the Wheels 2 Work Scheme website for more information.

Let's Go Tees Valley

This scheme is supported by a team of travel planning advisors that can work with businesses or staff to reduce barriers to travel, advice for employees, active travel challenges, case studies and news on recent developments.

Keep up-to-date with the latest in sustainable transport news at the Let's Go Tees Valley website.