Electric vehicle company Lunaz, which was backed by football icon David Beckham has ceased operations of its bin lorry fleet as it struggled to meet the Government’s net zero targets.
Lunaz remanufactures and electrifies passenger, commercial and industrial vehicles through its three companies, with its electric vehicle-based vans now halting.
Lunaz received support from Beckham in 2021 to help convert bin lorries into electric vehicles, but the branch of the business went into administration last week.
The company had gained mass support from investors who praised the group’s mission to convert vehicles into electric.
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However, the closure is expected to put 40 jobs at risk although the passenger car operation will still continue.
A Lunaz spokesperson told GB News: "The Lunaz Group is currently restructuring to adjust its business and operations in response to shifting market dynamics.
“These are caused by delays to the legislative requirement for fleets to transition to zero-emissions vehicles.
“All operating entities of the company have stopped operations with an intent to restart under a new structure to meet current and future demand for the company’s passenger and commercial vehicle products.”
Buckinghamshire Council entered into a £578,000 contract with the company last year to deliver electric bin lorries.
It was anticipated that the zero tailpipe emissions vehicles would travel 412 miles a week on collection routes in the north of Aylesbury, including roads in three air quality management areas.
However since then the council said it was disappointed with the news as this will impact its existing agreement with the group.
Steven Broadbent, deputy leader of the council, told GB News: "We are currently in discussion with them on the impact that this will have both on the agreement we have with them to transition one of our refuse vehicles to an electric variant, and for the Buckinghamshire economy.”
The council was not the only one affected, the company also had a contract with waste management company Biffa to convert 10 lorries into electric vehicles.
Anthony Holley, fleet and facilities director at Biffa said the company remained committed to growing its net zero fleet as part of wider plans to decarbonise its operations.
By next year, he explained that the company target is for 10 per cent of its vehicles to be alternatively fuelled, with ambition by 2030 that they will stop buying fossil fuel vehicles altogether.
He stated: “A range of alternative fuels will help us achieve this, including electric, hydrogenated vegetable oil, biomethane and hydrogen, and we look forward to continuing our work with the Lunaz Group when operations for its commercial vehicle products recommence.”
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The Government announced ambitious targets last year to have 80 per cent of new cars and 70 per cent of new vans sold in Great Britain have zero emission by 2030, increasing to 100 per cent by 2035.
