PEUGEOT has won the largest yet single order for electric vehicles in Britain, highlighting the growing commitment of fleets to investigate alternative fuel technology. The Coventry-based manufacturer has signed a £500,000 deal for 32 106 cars and vans and Partners with customers under the Nottinghamshire Millennium Electric Vehicles Project, which aims to promote greener motoring around the county.

It eclipses Peugeot's largest existing electric vehicle deal, worth £150,000, to supply nine Partner vans to the Royal Mail and the largest vehicle order under the Powershift scheme for eight Peugeot 106 vans for the London Borough of Camden. Jonathan Murray, Powershift transport programme manager, said: 'The interest this project has raised locally has demonstrated that both public and private sector fleet operators in Nottinghamshire have a strong commitment to addressing environmental issues.'

Pat McGivern, head of Peugeot's electric project, said: 'This order is a big boost to our electric vehicle programme and emphasises our commitment to alternative fuel technology and the growing concerns within urban areas of vehicle emissions and noise levels. We hope that having 32 vehicles running around will raise the profile of electric vehicles and hopefully others will join in.'