Europcar buys 100 LEVC electric vans

Europcar has added 100 electric LEVC VN5 vans to its short-term rental fleet across the UK.

The VN5 has a pure EV range of over 100km (60 miles), and a small petrol-powered range extender that recharges the batteries to stretch the vehicle’s range to 500km (304 miles). This makes it a practical solution for fleets that need to make urban deliveries in zero-emission mode, but also undertake longer journeys outside of town.

Ron Santiago, Managing Director, Europcar Mobility Group UK, said: “Research conducted in 2021 found that 89% of businesses expect a quarter or more of their fleet to enter a Clean Air Zone more than once a week. Yet there is a clear gap in availability of electric vehicles, as well as cost barriers for outright purchase. There is also concern that electrified vans may not be able to meet the high pressure demands of businesses, with uncertainty about the range they can offer.

“Bringing the VN5 on to the Europcar Vans & Trucks fleet addresses these concerns on several levels.”

He added that the VN5 would enable fleets to ‘try before they buy’, without having to commit to lease or outright purchase, giving them the chance to really understand how electric will work for them and their drivers.

Europcar aims to have 20% of its fleet producing less than 50g/km of CO2 by 2024.