Businesses across the UK will now be able to lease fully electric vehicles, thanks to a new deal between British Gas and fleet firm, Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions.
The new agreement will make it easier for firms to make full use of electric vehicles as part of their business fleet as British Gas agree to supply and install electric vehicles charging points in homes and places of work across the country as standard when electric vehicles are chosen from Hitachi Capital’s fleet solutions. It is the first electric vehicle (EV) partnership between energy provider and leasing company yet seen in the UK and will further help to inspire firms to add EVs to their fleets. Hitachi itself, has already recently added the Nissan Leaf and Citroen C-Zero to its own fleet, in a bid to improve its environmental performance and reduce running costs.
Customers who choose to lease electric cars will also benefit from three years of free British Gas Home Electrical Care- which gives the customer unlimited call outs for all home electrical repairs, including parts and labour.
The cost of the charging point, including installation, will be included in Hitachi Capital’s customer lease contracts, with maintenance provided by British Gas Home Electrical Care.
The deal builds on British Gas’s agreement with Nissan and Renault to be the Alliance’s preferred supplier of charge points to its electric vehicles in the UK. According to independent market analysis by Frost & Sullivan, British Gas is expected to be the preferred supplier of charge points for 70 per cent of the electric vehicle market in the UK in 2012.
The fleet sector is expected to play a major part in the development of the market for electric cars, as it accounts for more than half of all new car registrations in the UK each year. As a result up to 50 per cent of electric vehicles are expected to be leased through companies such as Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions between now and 2020.
Fiona McDonagh, Innovation Manager at British Gas, said: “The market for electric vehicles in Britain is growing fast, and the fact that Hitachi Capital has decided to add EVs to its fleet offering really confirms this. With our national network of electrical engineers, our electricity supply business, our solar panel business and our roll out of smart meters, British Gas is well placed to be at the forefront of that market. We can help electric car owners power their car for less money and from renewable sources.”
Chris Shore, Pricing Manager, Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions, comments: “Many drivers concerns around electric vehicles lie in ‘range anxiety’ – worries about how far they can travel on one battery charge. The ability to provide a safe and convenient charging point in a driver’s own home or place of business is therefore crucial to alleviating concerns and making them feel more comfortable about choosing an electric vehicle.”
