Pod Point partners with Lex Autolease to capture UK fleets

Pod Point has partnered with Lex Autolease in a deal that will allow Lex Autolease customers to install discounted electric vehicle charge points at the workplace or homes of its EV fleet car users at half the usual price.

Many companies are considering transitioning to electric fleets, but the introduction is set for a slow take-off of this new technology.

Erik Fairbairn, chief executive of Pod Point, said:  "Electric vehicles are a highly disruptive technology. A lot of procedures will have to change.

"The electricity supplied to EV drivers is not currently a taxable benefit, but may become so in the future – so electricity provision to individual drivers will need to be reported.

"The efficiency of the vehicles will need to be monitored, and as will reductions in CO2 emissions, so they can be offset against targets."

There are well-established procedures for monitoring the efficiency and use of petrol or diesel cars, and Pod Point’s charging technologies are designed to produce the same outputs for electric vehicles.

The Solo2 communicating charge point, which was launched to the motor trade in September 2012, is the only charging technology in Europe that has an inbuilt GPRS system, allowing two way communications between the charge point and a web-based account.

The most immediate benefit to businesses will be detailing the amount of electricity supplied to each user.

Chris Chandler, principal consultant at Lex Autolease said:  "We’re getting good feedback from corporate customers who have trialled EVs, but questions are being raised about monitoring energy use, producing expense reports and how to easily quantify reduced CO2 emissions.

"The communicating charge point offer helps to answer some of these issues, thereby making it easier for businesses to transition to electric fleets."

Lex Autolease customers will be able to install the Pod Point Solo2 communicating charge point for £500 including VAT – which is half the standard list price.  Customers will also receive a free online account, enabling monitoring of the electricity situation.