Latest plug-in technology joins Hitachi Capital fleet

Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions has welcomed a BMW i3 electric car to its personal fleet of vehicles, marking the latest stage in its support for new technology and alternative fuels.

The BMW i3 is available in both pure EV and in range extender form. Hitachi Capital’s range extender model incorporates a two-cylinder 0.6-litre petrol generator to produce additional charge.

The i3 will also make full use of Hitachi Capital’s EV charging points at its Newbury office and state-of-the-art Trowbridge site.

With a claimed range of more than 150 miles, Hitachi Capital is confident the range extender model, supplied by Dick Lovett BMW, will meet all of its employee’s transportation needs who will have access to the new i3 as a pool car.

It will give them and Hitachi Capital’s clients a hands-on experience of new technology and the advantages it can bring. An Audi A3 e-tron will also be joining Hitachi Capital’s personal fleet over the coming months.

Hitachi Capital employees have already had the chance to experience electric vehicle technology, with the fleet provider running several Nissan Leafs and a Vauxhall Ampera since 2011.

It has also supported alternative fuel vehicle trials with Nissan and British Gas, which saw 28 pure electric vans used by engineers in regular service. So successful was the trial, an order for an additional 100 pure electric Nissan e-NV200 vehicles was placed in 2014.

Tim Bowden, head of operations at Hitachi Capital Car Solutions, said: “Five years ago, we were one of the first fleets to run both a range extender and pure EV on our fleet.

“Hitachi Capital’s appetite for new technology keeps us and our clients at the forefront of innovation.

“Over just the last five years we have seen countless new technologies come to the market. From smart phones and tablets to pure EVs and now even driverless cars, technology is part of our everyday lives.

“At Hitachi Capital, our mission is to enable our clients access to and the ability to take full advantage of new technology, ensuring its success in the marketplace for a greener, cleaner future.”