With the EV Discovery Programme from Vertellus, drivers and fleet managers have a new way to sample battery vehicles.
The contract hire company has teamed up with Renault Trucks and Zenobē for the initiative.
Vertellus says it wants to help customers as they look to move to low carbon vehicles and fleet-wide decarbonisation.
Therefore, it is offering 30 electric vehicles, ranging from 16 to 18 tonnes, with box, curtainsider and fridge bodies.
These ready-to-operate vehicles will be delivered to customers with a temporary charging solution installed on site.
Specifically, EV fleet and battery storage company Zenobē, will provide a DC 60kW solution.
This setup will includes its bespoke software to manage the eTruck charging.
In addition, it will provide a 24/7 helpline and a performance guarantee.
Nigel Baxter, managing director at Vertellus, explained the reasoning behind the project.
“When it comes to switching to an EV contract hire fleet there is so much more for the business to think about than with a diesel.
“Therefore, we have designed the EV Discovery Programme to remove complexity and hassle.”
Continuing, Baxter said he wanted operators to “accelerate the process of reducing the carbon footprint of their fleets”.
“Introducing EVs across an entire fleet is likely to happen in stages,” he added.
“However, the Vertellus EV Discovery Programme solution identifies operations and sectors where this technology can work for businesses.”
Meanwhile, he said it provides operators with an opportunity to test the technology, in their own day-to-day environment.
The Vertellus EV Discovery offer is a three-month programme based on usage.
In other words, customers contract a minimum of 3,000kWh a month – equivalent to around40,000km a year.
Pricing for box and curtainsider vehicles is £1.50/kWh and for refrigerator vehicles it is £1.90/kWh.
This cost includes all expected standard full contract hire services.
