London Docklands Light Railway electrifies vehicle fleet

KeolisAmey Docklands, the company responsible for operating and maintaining the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) network in London, is transitioning its entire car and van fleet to an EV fleet.

A new eight-year contract with Transport for London (TfL) started in April 2025, with a target from TfL to go fully electric within five years from this date. 

The entire fleet will be fully electric by the end of December 2025, with 62% of the fleet currently in place.

The transition has been achieved with the help of DriveElectric, a pioneering electric vehicle leasing company, in partnership with Ford.

A legacy petrol and diesel fleet with demanding operational needs has been replaced with 39 electric vans and six electric cars, including specialist vehicles that have typically been challenging to electrify, such as vans with tail lifts and flatbeds.

All vehicles have been supplied by one manufacturer, Ford, with the fleet being comprised of Puma Gen-E cars, E-Tourneo minibuses, and E-Transit and E-Transit Custom vans, including variants with double cabs, tail lifts, dropside flatbeds, racking, shelving and ladder racks. Partnering with Ford as a single manufacturer has enabled the deployment of Ford Pro telematics, providing real-time insights that enhance visibility, efficiency and fleet performance.

Richard Graham, managing director, KeolisAmey Docklands, said: “Delivering a fully electric fleet over four years ahead of schedule is a testament to our team’s commitment and the strength of our partnerships with Ford and DriveElectric. We’re proud to champion sustainability, operational excellence and community wellbeing in East London.”

The transition to an electric fleet has delivered significant operational cost savings on fuel and maintenance, creating opportunities to reinvest those savings into future carbon reduction initiatives. With zero tailpipe emissions, the new fleet is also helping to improve air quality for staff and local communities in East London.

Tom Page, general manager, Docklands Light Railway (DLRL), added: “We’re delighted to see KeolisAmey Docklands deliver this ambitious EV fleet transformation. The project demonstrates the impact of close collaboration between DLRL, KAD, and our industry partners. By working together, we’re driving real progress towards a cleaner, more sustainable future for London’s transport network.”

DriveElectric supplied short-term electric vehicle rentals to maintain business continuity during the transition period. KAD has looked into decentralised, clean energy infrastructure across two grid-constrained London locations, including solar-powered chargers and battery storage at the Beckton depot, enhancing resilience to energy market volatility.

Liam Bone, regional fleet business manager, Ford of Britain and Ireland, said: “This project shows the strength of collaboration. By working closely with DriveElectric, we’ve delivered a fleet solution made up of our freshest-ever line up that supports KeolisAmey Docklands’ transition to zero-emission vehicles, combining Ford’s product capability and versatility with DriveElectric’s expertise.”

The transition to electric vehicles is aligned with KAD’s Net Zero ambitions, creating a fit-for-purpose and sustainable fleet for the future. This achievement also directly supports the Mayor of London’s Clean Air and Net Zero targets, setting a new benchmark for sustainable fleet management in the light rail sector.