Workplace solutions specialists, OfficeMax New Zealand, will phase out its fleet of conventional cars by the end of the year, instead embracing electric and hybrid models.

The move is in line with the company’s 2025 Sustainability Strategy, and will be 105 petrol cars phased out, with a reduced fleet of 95 cars being either electric (EV) or hybrid.

It’s expected to result in an estimated 50 percent reduction in fleet-based emissions, with the lower carbon emitting cards reducing OfficeMax’s CO2e emissions by approximately 185t per year.

Ben Norrie, Chief Financial Officer of OfficeMax New Zealand, said the transition involved collaborating with OfficeMax’s team.

“The first question we asked ourselves was ‘are our people ready?’ We knew that the transition was necessary, but we were also mindful that we had to properly understand the readiness of our people to adopt electric vehicles,” he said.

“We surveyed our staff and found that there was some education required regarding the distance EVs can travel before needing to be charged.”

The internal survey highlighted range anxiety as a key issue amongst 44 percent of staff. The cost of charging vehicles and uncertainty about how to drive an EV were also factors.

Drive days were arranged for staff to test out electrical vehicles, and OfficeMax introduced home charging units to enable staff to feel more comfortable with the transition.

OfficeMax’s hybrid vehicles will be delivered by the end of September, and its fully electric vehicles are due to hit to road this month.

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