PEUGEOT has become the first car manufacturer in Britain to offer electric cars on a fully commercial basis to fleet buyers. Peugeot 106 Electric cars and vans and Partner Electric vans can now be bought by fleets, with the backing by full national dealer network support for aftersales and service. The vehicles are not yet available to retail customers.

The 106 Electric three-door car will be priced £11,645, plus VAT, and the 106 Electric van £10,860, plus VAT, with battery rental of £85 per month including servicing, repair and eventual replacement. This compares to £6,676, plus VAT, for a 106 XND diesel car.

The Partner Electric will be priced £9,120, plus VAT, with battery rental of £110 per month, compared to £8,300, plus VAT, for the Partner 600D diesel van.

Delivery charges of £425, plus VAT, and £40 road fund licence will also be added.

The first orders, for 17 vehicles worth more than £230,000, have come from the London boroughs of Camden, Sutton and Southwark. They will be the first of more than 50 Peugeot electric vehicles to be delivered over the next few months to various organisations, mainly local authorities.