Heartland replaces 23% of fleet with hybrid vehicles

Heartland is pleased to announce that it is phasing out its petrol- and diesel-engine fleet, beginning with the replacement of all internal 4WD vehicles (equating 23% of the total fleet) with hybrid alternatives. This comes off the back of the 7% reduction in overall fleet size that Heartland achieved in FY2021.

The acquisition of these new hybrid vehicles is a further step towards Heartland reaching its ambitious Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions reduction target of 35% by FY2026. Over the past financial year, the organisation saw a 17% reduction in GHG emissions, about 6% of which was a result of deliberate emissions reduction activity (with the remainder due to the impact of COVID-19 on domestic and international travel).

Heartland’s vehicle fleet is the single biggest contributor towards its overall GHG emissions. Because getting around the country to see customers and partners is so key to its business model, Heartland has determined that reducing and optimising the fleet is the most impactful and realistic way to lower overall vehicle emissions.

“The team who use our fleet vehicles do a significant amount of driving, and often on rural roads,” explains Heartland Bank CEO Chris Flood. “We’re pleased that these new vehicles are not only going to have a positive impact on Heartland’s environmental conservation efforts, but they’re also newer, higher quality cars that we’re confident will keep our people safer on the road.”

The first of the new hybrids were delivered in January and February 2022, with the remainder expected to arrive by June 2022. The 4WD vehicles being replaced are the highest polluters in Heartland’s current fleet, but the remaining 77% of the vehicles (2WD petrol cars) will be considered for replacement with hybrid and electric vehicles in the second half of 2022.

“By the end of 2023, we expect almost all of our fleet to be comprised of electric and hybrid cars. In the meantime, we’re excited to see how these new vehicles contribute towards our GHG emissions reduction target.”