Lex Autolease, the UK’s largest fleet management company, has reached a milestone in the provision of alternative fuel vehicles with the delivery of its 100th plug in electric vehicle.

The vehicle is one of five Renault Kangoo ZE Vans provided to energy giant E.ON to help reduce CO2 emissions across the company’s fleet.  

Based at E.ON’s Kingswinford site in the West Midlands, the vehicles will be used by the company’s meter reading division on a daily basis for journeys of up to 50 miles.   

E.ON introduced electric vehicles into its fleet after using telematics to analyse driving patterns and usage.  The results showed that meter readers completed several short local journeys using conventional vans, which could be undertaken using an electric vehicle.   

Lorna McAtear, E.ON’s Commercial Vehicle Manager, added: "E.ON is committed to reducing its carbon footprint by continually evaluating all travel related activities. A key element of this strategy is the introduction of more sustainable and environmentally friendly vehicles into our fleet. 

"By analysing driver usage patterns we were able to identify those activities that could be carried out using electric vehicles. The feedback we received from our drivers during the trial phase was very positive and we look forward to assessing how these vehicles will perform once they become fully operational."

According to figures released last month by the Driving and Vehicle Licensing Agency there are 4,100 electric vehicles on the UK’s roads. This figure is likely to increase significantly following the Government’s pledge earlier this year to invest £37m to develop charging points and infrastructure for these vehicles.

Chris Chandler, senior consultant at Lex Autolease, said: "Electric vehicles such as the Renault Kangoo are perfectly suited to the type of short journeys identified by E.ON.

"Replacing conventional transport for electric vehicles on journeys of this kind can produce noticeable cost and environmental benefits. We have a long standing relationship with E.ON and look forward to working in partnership with them to provide additional sustainable transport."

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