BT Group has signed up to LEVC’s real-world fleet trial programme to test out its VN5 range-extender electric van ahead of its imminent arrival.
The new van – on sale now – uses the e-City range-extender technology already seen in LEVC’s TX taxi and is currently completing its final testing. This includes wide-scale trials with fleets.
BT Group has now signed up to join the trials, alongside firms such as Kier Group, Royal Mail and DPD; in total, more than 25 business partners in total are taking part.
BT’s trials will put two converted LEVC taxi vans to use. As the TX taxi and VN5 use the same powertrain, LEVC is deploying a fleet of converted TX electric taxis to act as VN5 prototypes.
The vehicles will be used by BT in as many roles and locations around the UK as possible. Its Technology division will run the vehicle for field engineers, starting with a Power Exchange Engineer, based in Wrexham, Wales, while its Supply Chain team will initially use a vehicle for logistics support in Northallerton, Yorkshire.
The trials will also help BT explore how it can make use of electric vehicles as part of its work to become a net zero carbon emissions business by 2045. The LEVC VN5 brings an electric-only range of 61 miles and a total range in excess of 300 miles with emissions of 21g/km CO2 on the combined WLTP cycle.
Cyril Pourrat, chief procurement officer at BT, commented: “With the second largest commercial fleet in the UK, the switch to low- and zero-emissions vehicles is central to our carbon strategy and will help us to become a net zero emissions business by 2045. To speed up that transition, we’re calling on the UK Government to target 100% electric car and van sales by 2030, extend grants for electric vehicles and to unlock infrastructure investment to support the rollout of public charge-points across the country.”
The VN5 goes into production in November and starts deliveries at the end of the year.
