Hilti moves its UK fleet to Kia EVs

Hilti has replaced more than 200 cars across its UK business with Kia electric models.

The tool manufacturer and construction solutions company replaced 35% of its fleet with eco models by the end of 2021 and is targeting 50% by the end of 2022, and the entirety of the fleet by 2024.

As well as cars, Hilti has a fleet of some 300 vans with plans to also replace these with electric vans.

Hilti’s head of finance and head of sustainability, Annette Boren, said: “All of our sustainability efforts are ultimately to benefit the wider environment rather than us as a business.

“Our target of carbon neutrality is to ensure we are in line with global efforts to tackle climate change, but we have long focused on sustainability efforts in all areas of our business, with initiatives like our tool recycling scheme. Choosing Kia was a strategic choice as we are confident their EV pipeline is strong enough to support us through further rollouts in the future.”

The Kia e-Niro was selected as the electric vehicle (EV) of choice to replace Hilti’s current diesel estate car. The change to EVs across the business is expected to reduce its total global emissions by some 48%.

Hilti employees travel an average of 111 miles per day, with some up to as many as 250 miles. Extensive internal research was undertaken to ensure the new vehicle would be fit for purpose.

As well as extensive internal polling, Hilti also looked at other factors including the EV innovation pipeline offered by each car brand to guarantee the availability of vehicles in other rollouts, reliability and safety, and available financial benefits for staff.

The chosen Kia will require less than one charge per day for the average Hilti employee, and as part of the rollout all employees are to be supplied with a charging station at their home, free of charge.

John Hargreaves, general manager for fleet and remarketing at Kia UK, added: “This is yet another great example of how seamlessly Kia’s electric cars can fit into a busy fleet with exacting requirements. With a reassuring 282-mile range from just one charge, a practical interior and a big boot, the e-Niro ‘4+’ alleviates many of the typical concerns fleets have when going electric. Kia’s seven-year/100,000 mile warranty as standard across the whole range, great residual values and low total cost of ownership add to the attraction.”