DPD has deployed a fleet of converted electric vans from Voltia on its corporate fleet in Slovakia, making use of a new bespoke leasing product.
Offering a 11m3 capacity, the vehicles are built on the Stellantis eKO platform used for the Peugeot e-Expert, Citroën ë-Jumpy/ ë-Dispatch, Vauxhall/Opel Vivaro-e and the co-developed Toyota Proace.
Previewed last autumn by Voltia, the vehicles mark the launch in Europe of a new dedicated leasing product, developed in cooperation with LeasePlan Slovakia and Stellantis import partner Emil Frey Group Slovakia.
A new addition to Voltia’s product portfolio, the operating lease product is specifically designed for electric vans and reduces the monthly payments to sit in line, or even lower, than the equivalent diesel version – at about €500 in Slovakia. This means the price per cubic metre of space is now less than €3,500.
The vans are priced in Slovakia at €35,950 (including the base vehicle plus conversion and without a subsidy). Two batteries are on offer; a 50kWh version with a 200km (124-mile) range and a 75kWh version with up to 280km (174 miles). Both have a warranty for eight years / 160,000km (99,000 miles).
According to Voltia, the new set-up brings fleets multiple benefits while enabling them to go electric. This includes a total cost saving of more than €24,000 over 10 years per van while users also gain from a wide OEM service network.
Juraj Ulehla, founder of Voltia, said: “This collaboration between several different partners is an example of how the transition of companies to electromobility can be accelerated and simplified today; more specifically, to help them convert their fleets at the price of diesel.”
Rastislav Podlipný, CEO of LeasePlan Slovakia, added: “I believe that this type of cooperation will not only simplify the transition of companies to electromobility, but may also inspire other entities to similar partnerships.”
The new vehicles are the latest to join the DPD fleet in Slovakia, which has already been successfully using Voltia’s electric vans for several years.
“We are very pleased to be able to expand our fleet by dozens more units and thus once again strengthen our position as a fleet electric vehicle pioneer in Slovakia. By the end of the year, our fleet will already consist of more than 100 electric vans,” said Peter Pavuk, managing director of DPD in Slovakia.
The Stellantis models are being produced at Voltia’s facilities in Nitra. The business has also said it’s open to expansion with foreign partners in France, Great Britain and Germany.
