DriveElectric has been appointed by the UK’s largest leasing company, Lex Autolease, to help customers operating less than 20 vehicles make the transition to electric cars and vans.

DriveElectric has been helping businesses and individuals make the switch to electric vehicles (EVs) since 2008. The partnership with Lex Autolease will see the EV specialist provide expert advice and match the right plug-in vehicles for contract hire and personal contract hire to business customers looking to go electric.

Lex Autolease introduced the first mainstream plug-in vehicles to customer fleets early in 2011 and, through working with DriveElectric, will expand the offering to customers with both vehicles and the knowledge and support to assist in their transition to ultra-low emitting vehicles.

Mike Potter, managing director and founder at DriveElectric, said: “DriveElectric has an established and thorough understanding of the electric vehicle market and energy propositions.

“We are a small expert company with an unrivalled knowledge and understanding of electric vehicles. 

“The relationships our team has with manufacturers and suppliers in the industry are invaluable to business customers.

“This partnership is huge for DriveElectric and we are thrilled that they have chosen to partner with us. 

“We passionately believe in supporting individuals and businesses make the transition to zero emission transport and energy and we are excited to be able to share this passion with Lex Autolease’s customers.”

He continued: “Businesses now realise they have to be electric vehicle ready as the benefits of switching to electric company cars mean demand is rocketing.

“Working with Lex Autolease allows us to share our knowledge with over 1.2m customers. We will help customers understand how they can make electric vehicles work for them and their business, and how charging at home and the workplace really works. 

“We’re keen to demystify a soon to be essential process for thousands of people and ensure clarity and growth of an electric vehicles future.”

DriveElectric says that the financial savings of switching to an electric company car are approximately £2,550 per year in fuel alone compared to a diesel or petrol equivalent mid-range SUV, travelling 15,000 miles a year.

The company will be arranging events for Lex customers, showcasing electric vehicles and providing expert advice to help businesses transition to electric as well as dealing with all Lex Autolease’s web enquiries for electric vehicles.

Since 2008, DriveElectric has put more than 3,000 electric vehicles on the UK roads for consumers and businesses.

The deal comes after energy suppliers Centrica and SSE and facilities services company Mitie have committed to switch their vehicle fleets to electric by 2030, as part of international non-profit The Climate Group’s global EV100 initiative.

The companies represent some of the UK’s biggest buyers of commercial vehicles, with a combined portfolio of 21,000 vehicles, making a commitment to switch to electric motoring. 

Centrica operates the third largest fleet in the country, SSE the seventh largest and Mitie the eleventh largest.