Northgate Vehicle Hire to supply EVs to KN Circnet

Northgate Vehicle Hire is providing long-term customer KN Circet with a fleet of electric vehicles (EVs).

Thanks to an investment of €1.1 million, the 29 Hyundai Kona EVs are the first plug-in vehicles to join the company’s existing vehicle line-up, making it one of the largest EV fleets in operation in Ireland.

As a provider to the telecommunications, transport infrastructure and power sectors, KN Circet delivers a portfolio of specialist services across Ireland, the UK, France, Spain and Germany.

Raymond Kelly, group services director at KN Circet, said: “KN Circet aims to implement initiatives that deliver real environmental sustainability.

“We have extensively trialled a number of electric vehicle models and have learned the practical lessons required on how best to utilise and develop systems to increase the use of electric vehicles throughout our fleet.

“Our partnership with Northgate Vehicle Hire for EVs has resulted in lower running and maintenance costs along with the feel good factor that we as a company and our drivers are actively contributing to a better and cleaner environment.”

With more than 20 years of experience in the commercial vehicle rental sector, Northgate Vehicle Hire continues to work closely with its customers in Ireland to provide a variety of flexible hire options.

With a fleet of 4,500 commercial vehicles, it says it can source specific vehicles that meet its customers’ needs for both large and small businesses across a range of industries.

Billy McGregor, managing director of Northgate Vehicle Hire Ireland, said: “At Northgate Vehicle Hire we are seeing more and more Irish businesses actively seeking to reduce their carbon footprint.

“Switching to electric vehicles is just one way these companies can make a positive change.

“Northgate were happy to support KN Circet with their requirements to provide an eco-friendly, cost-effective vehicle solution delivering zero emissions.”

For KN Circet, Northgate’s EVs supported the company’s specific need to reduce costs in an environmentally friendly and sustainable way.

David Thompson, managing director of the installations division at KN Circet, said: “In our customer installation division, we operate a fleet of light commercial vehicles providing various in-home installation services throughout Ireland.

“We have been monitoring EV technology over the past 10 years, waiting for a vehicle that aligns suitability with affordability.

“With the introduction of the Hyundai Kona, through our partnership with Northgate Vehicle Hire, we have finally taken this initial step, to migrate several of our field teams to EV’s.

“We see this initial deployment as a significant step towards our aspiration to have a fully electrified fleet, over time.”