AA Fleet Decarbonisation

The AA Drives Towards Net Zero: A Decade-Long Commitment to Decarbonisation

The AA has set an ambitious target to achieve net zero for Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2035. This commitment means decarbonising all vehicles and buildings The AA operates, including the iconic yellow vans and trucks. With the operational fleet of over 3,000 vehicles accounting for 97% of Scope 1 and 2 emissions, the biggest challenge lies in transforming the fleet.

The Challenge of Decarbonisation

The challenge is not evenly spread across the fleet. Last year:

• Vans, making up nearly 90% of the fleet, contributed two-thirds of fleet emissions.
• Trucks, although less than 10% of the fleet, were responsible for one-third of emissions.
• Company cars are already 98% electric or hybrid.

The AA faces unique challenges in decarbonisation, including:

• Towing: Nearly all vehicles tow at the roadside, and current EVs, particularly vans, do not yet offer comparable towing performance.
• Parking: Without depots, charging must often be completed at patrol homes overnight.
• Range: Many patrols cover hundreds of miles per shift, making on-the-go charging logistically complex and costly.
• Routes: Patrols operate reactively, meaning advance route planning is not always possible.

A “Test and Scale” Approach

Given these challenges, The AA is taking a “test and scale” approach to fleet decarbonisation, with structured trials of alternative fuel vehicles in real-world conditions.

Trucks: Testing HVO and Electric Options

• HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil): A biofuel made from recycled vegetable oil, usable in standard diesel engines.
• Since January 2024, three trucks have been fully operational on HVO in Greater Manchester, with trials extended to 18 months in partnership with Certas Energy.
• Over 50,000 litres of HVO has been used, covering 150,000 HVO-miles, reducing emissions by 95% at point of use with no significant operational issues.
• The cost premium of HVO has fallen, availability has improved, and fuel efficiency gains are emerging, making further expansion a possibility.
• EV Recovery Vehicles: The AA has developed four bespoke concept EV recovery vehicles, including one large recovery truck, one small recovery truck, and two large recovery vans.
• The Volvo EV recovery truck, operational since August 2024 in Birmingham, has already completed 5,000 recovery miles across 150 live jobs.
• Other EV recovery vehicles are operational in Birmingham, with further data collection ongoing.
• The innovative EV fleet has won the Iveco Innovation Award and the “What Van” Green Innovation Award, and The AA was a finalist in the Logistics UK Van Awards and the Edie Net Zero Awards.

Vans: Major EV Trials in 2024/25

• Roadside Assistance EVs:
  • A major trial of 30 electric and plug-in hybrid Ford Transit Custom vans launched in December 2024.
  • These vans, including 15 BEVs (Battery Electric Vehicles) and 15 PHEVs (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles), will be fully operational by year-end.
  • All vans are tow-capable, with the PHEV model featuring a full CRT setup.
  • Patrols in the trial will have home chargers installed, supported by partners at Rightcharge.
  • These vans will be deployed in urban areas such as Birmingham, Bristol, Glasgow, Nottingham, Liverpool, and London.
• Other Business Areas:
  • An additional 11 EV vans are operational in roles with lower towing demands, such as Key Assist, Mobile Mechanics, Vehicle Inspections, and Signs teams.
  • The year started with 12 alternative fuel vehicles, and The AA is on track to end with over 50 across the fleet.

Company Cars: Leading the Charge

• Company Cars: 98% are now low-emission vehicles, with 44% fully electric and 54% hybrid.
• Driving School: While the franchised driving school is outside Scope 1 emissions, The AA is expanding its EV fleet in response to learner demand.

Supporting the Wider EV Transition

Fleet decarbonisation aligns with The AA’s broader work in supporting the UK's shift to electric vehicles:

• EV Assistance: EV-related jobs now account for 4% of all roadside callouts.
• Reduced “Out of Charge” Cases: The proportion of EVs requiring assistance due to an out-of-charge battery has fallen to less than 2% (from 2021’s figures), expected to align with internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle rates of 1%.
• EV Repair Rates: 98% of patrols are trained to Level 2 EV capability, and the EV roadside repair rate exceeds ICE repair rates.

Expanding EV Infrastructure Support

Beyond assisting EV drivers, The AA plays a significant role in the UK’s charging infrastructure:

• The AA provides customer support services to several major charge point operators via UK call centres.
• Around 40% of all UK public charge points were supported by The AA as of September 2024.

A Sustainable Future

The road to net zero is long, but The AA is confident that through innovation, testing, and scaling new technologies, it will:

• Meet the net zero commitment by 2035.
• Continue delivering exceptional service to an increasingly low-carbon vehicle parc.

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