Swedish network of companies using clean vehicles
The network wants to create a dynamic growth of the clean vehicles and alternative fuels market. The background is the escalating increase of carbon dioxide emissions from the transport sector, which adds to the greenhouse effect. The network uses appeals and discussion articles in their lobbying.
Gunnar Vagerstam was a producer of environmental programmes for Swedish Television (SVT) – now he is their corporate environmental coordinator. SVT's environmental strategy includes cutting electricity consumption and CO2 emissions. In Stockholm, SVT runs 80 cars and has so far substituted four petrol-driven cars for clean vehicles. The news team, for example, drives an electric hybrid car.
Last autumn, Gunnar Vagerstam arranged a seminar on clean vehicles and the idea of a network was born. At the same time, a cooperation with Trendsetter was set up. Some ten companies immediately jumped at the idea and less than a year later "At Least One Clean Vehicle" has more than 30 members. Today, member companies run a total of 160 clean vehicles and are planning to buy a further 130 vehicles during 2004–2005.
"It's not only about buying clean vehicles. In a short time, we've become something of an environmental policy player," says Gunnar Vagerstam, pleased about the great interest but slightly weary from the increased workload.
"We have to look for solutions for a sustainable development," wrote "At Least One Clean Vehicle" in a recent article directed towards the government, parliament and the City of Stockholm. The network wants to see clean vehicles exempt from congestion and parking charges.
THE NAME OF THE NETWORK HAS BEEN UP FOR DISCUSSION"We've thought about a name change, e.g. "Yet Another Clean Vehicle", but came to the conclusion that everyone understands that it's OK to buy more than one."
The network now includes companies and organisations such as Coop Sweden, Schenker, Fortum, The Customs and Excise Department, the Swedish Motor-Vehicle Inspection Company, CocaCola, Hilton and Dagens Nyheter, Sweden's leading morning paper.
Dagens Nyheter has decided to exchange all conventional company cars for clean vehicles.
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