Inchcape Fleet Solutions has signed its first major electric vehicle contract with Edinburgh-based Jewel and Esk College.

The vehicles, four of the cutting-edge Mitsubishi iMiEV model, have been supplied to Jewel and Esk College as part of a 12-month contract hire agreement.

Over the course of the contract, the vehicles will be utilised by students of the college to conduct a series of studies that will assess the wider suitability of electric vehicles for use across Midlothian Council in the near future.

Steve Tinsley, director of Innovation and Enterprise at Jewel and Esk College, commented: “The college was invited by Midlothian Council to monitor use of the cars across four sites over a 12-month period. As part of the tests, we are hoping to create a better awareness of the electric vehicle, whilst also running seminars and training programmes relating to their best practice use.

“Upon completion of the project, we are planning to make our findings available not only to Midlothian Council but to the general public, too. Providing it proves a success, it’s highly likely we’ll return to Inchcape Fleet Solutions for vehicles to run similar studies in Dundee, Stirling and Angus.”

Richard Middleton, sales and marketing director at Inchcape Fleet Solutions, commented: “Signing our first electric vehicle contract is a fantastic milestone for Inchcape Fleet Solutions and really demonstrates the variety in our fleet offering.

“Looking at the bigger picture, it is particularly pleasing for us that our contract with Jewel and Esk College means we can jointly raise electric vehicle awareness across Scotland, coinciding with our appearance at GreenFleet Scotland on September 1st, and further broadcast the green agenda.”