Lex Autolease launches extended EV test drive opportunity for LCV fleets

The UK’s leading commercial vehicle provider is offering customers a unique level of insight into how electric vehicle technology can be best incorporated into their van fleets, free of charge.

Available from 9th October, Lex Autolease will be rolling out test drives of the Renault Kangoo Z.E 33 to businesses across the UK for two weeks at a time – significantly longer than the typical two-to-three day test drives available direct from the manufacturer.

Customers that have signed up to trial the van so far include Britvic, Mitie and Lancer Scott.

Mark Grundy, Strategic Product and Proposition Manager – Commercial Vehicles at Lex Autolease, commented: “As fleet partner to more than 41,000 UK businesses, we are committed to helping customers navigate the ever-evolving technological, regulatory and legislative landscape.  An increasingly important part of having a fit-for-purpose fleet is ensuring the most effective mix of fuel types.

“Our advice is for lower-mileage users to start the transition to electric now, taking advantage of lower fuel and maintenance costs, and enjoying unrestricted access to urban areas.  We’re working with customers to identify the most appropriate applications for the electric van while they’re using it on fleet.”

The van will be delivered to and collected from customers by a trained commercial vehicle (CV) specialist, and all businesses that sign up for the free test drive will receive guidance and support for the full duration from the Lex Autolease CV Specialist team. The initiative will initially be open for 12 months.

The Renault Kangoo Z.E 33 is fully modular and tailored to a wide range of professional needs, with a loading area of up to 3.6m³ to support a payload of 625g. It comes with a type two charging connector – compatible with the most public charge points – as well as a standard three-pin option for mains charging at home or work, where a charge point might not yet have been installed.

Simon Mohun, national field service manager at Britvic, commented: “Integrating an electric van into our fleet for a full two weeks means we can confidently assess whether and how to start transitioning towards zero emission technology.

“As well as minimising the impact of our operations on the environment, we’re keen to take advantage of the whole-life cost benefits of having electric vehicles on fleet, where they’re the right option for the job.”

Lex Autolease currently operates the largest pure electric LCV fleet in the country, with 727 orders delivered and an additional 411 orders taken to date.

For customers that might require extended usage of an electric van after the trial, Lex Autolease has also recently added a number of sustainable options to its car and van rental service.

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