WhichEV.Net
  • Buying Advice
  • Events
  • Features
  • News
    • All
    • Charging
    • Commercial Vehicles
    • Consumer Vehicles
    • Cool Car Tech
    • Curiosities
    • Design
    • Energy
    • Environment
    • Industry
    • Legal
    • Market
    • Motorsport
    • Public Sector
    • Records
    • Rumours
    • Safety
    • Sharing

    Vauxhall releases first images of Combo-e electric van

    Nissan shows off wild camping EV concept van

    Mercedes launches entry-level EQA electric SUV

    Almost two thirds of drivers now considering EV for next car

    StoreDot develops EV battery with game-changing 5-minute charge time

    Fleet vehicle operators could save £17 million a year with EVs says Citroen

    Trending Tags

  • Reviews
No Result
View All Result
WhichEV.Net
  • Buying Advice
  • Events
  • Features
  • News
    • All
    • Charging
    • Commercial Vehicles
    • Consumer Vehicles
    • Cool Car Tech
    • Curiosities
    • Design
    • Energy
    • Environment
    • Industry
    • Legal
    • Market
    • Motorsport
    • Public Sector
    • Records
    • Rumours
    • Safety
    • Sharing

    Vauxhall releases first images of Combo-e electric van

    Nissan shows off wild camping EV concept van

    Mercedes launches entry-level EQA electric SUV

    Almost two thirds of drivers now considering EV for next car

    StoreDot develops EV battery with game-changing 5-minute charge time

    Fleet vehicle operators could save £17 million a year with EVs says Citroen

    Trending Tags

  • Reviews
No Result
View All Result
WhichEV.Net
No Result
View All Result
Home News Charging

British Gas places biggest ever UK order for electric vans

James Morris by James Morris
7th July 2020
in Charging, Commercial Vehicles, LCV, News
Reading Time: 3min read
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Despite ever larger commercial challenges to its various businesses, Centrica's CEO Sarwjit Sambhi is driving the company to evolve and be ready for the changing markets of tomorrow. Placing the largest ever order for commercial electric vehicles in the UK is a strong step toward British Gas's ambition of being a 100% EV company before the end of 2030. WhichEV examines this inspiring story, where ironies abound.

Centrica, owner of British Gas, has committed to electrifying its 12,000 strong fleet by 2030 and will be making further orders with Vauxhall for electric vehicles as soon as they are available. This may include the all-electric Combo-e – available from Summer 2021.

For now, the focus is on 1,000 all-electric Vivaro-e vans from Vauxhall. The BEVs (Battery Electric Vehicles) will arrive over the next 12 months and be rolled out nationwide across the British Gas engineer workforce.

The initial roll-out will be part of a large-scale fact-finding mission. Engineers who receive the new vans will be chosen from volunteers, with priority being given to areas where emissions need to be lowered and where existing vehicles already need replacing. One of the largest and most important parts of the transition centres on British Gas engineers turning up at the homes of other gas engineers, specifically to install an EV charge point. Gas engineers are being upskilled for the task – and British Gas wants to help accelerate adoption of EVs for homes and businesses across the country.

Grant Shapps, Secretary of State for Transport, loves the project, saying: “This is a huge step for such an iconic British company, who are showing leadership in making the switch to zero emission vehicles as we to strive to meet net zero emissions by 2050. We’re determined to build back greener – to deliver better air quality and lower our carbon footprint.”

It's also good news for Vauxhall. Getting a large order for a new generation of vehicle means that a lot of teething issues can be ironed out and economies of scale can start to come into play sooner for future orders.

“As the oldest British vehicle Brand since 1903, I want to thank British Gas, a fellow British business, for their loyalty and trust in Vauxhall,” says Stephen Norman, Managing Director, Vauxhall Motors. “As with all businesses up and down the country, tradespeople rely on their van as an essential tool of their work… The Vauxhall Vivaro-e [represents] the first step in the electrification of our entire van range, can contribute towards the transition towards low emissions vehicles whilst improving air quality.”

Also good news for Vauxhall is their claim that they are able to ramp up commercial EV production quickly. “Transport is a key area where we can improve carbon emissions and is an important part of our strategy to meet our net zero targets,” said Matthew Bateman, Managing Director, British Gas. “We chose to work with Vauxhall as they were able to give us a large number of high-quality and low emission vans.”

This move will help British Gas achieve its goals as a carbon-neutral company, it gives Vauxhall a boost on EV sales and – possibly more importantly in the long run – will help put pressure on the the government and private sector companies alike to invest heavily in our nation's charger network.

Tags: British GasVauxhall
Previous Post

UK car sales in June see another huge increase for EVs

Next Post

Elon Musk sells silk shorts to celebrate Tesla becoming the most valuable car company again

James Morris

James Morris

Editor With over 25 years’ experience as a technology journalist and a life-long love of cars, Dr James Morris initially saw the potential for electric vehicles when he became one of the first people to drive a Nissan Leaf back in 2011. He presently owns a Tesla Model 3 Performance and a plug-in Mercedes C350e Estate. He loves how automotive design and gadgetry combine in EVs, making them both fun and technically fascinating at the same time. Alongside being editor of WhichEV, he contributes to Forbes.com on electric vehicles and is Pathway Director of the Masters in Interactive Journalism at City, University of London.

Related Posts

Vauxhall releases first images of Combo-e electric van

26th January 2021

Nissan shows off wild camping EV concept van

26th January 2021

Mercedes launches entry-level EQA electric SUV

25th January 2021

Almost two thirds of drivers now considering EV for next car

25th January 2021
Next Post

Elon Musk sells silk shorts to celebrate Tesla becoming the most valuable car company again

Discussion about this post

Latest News

Vauxhall releases first images of Combo-e electric van

26th January 2021

Nissan shows off wild camping EV concept van

26th January 2021

Mercedes launches entry-level EQA electric SUV

25th January 2021

Trending

  • How to turn your favourite classic car into an EV

    626 shares
    Share 305 Tweet 134
  • Future electric cars: The best upcoming electric cars, SUVs and pickup trucks – UPDATED!

    423 shares
    Share 203 Tweet 92
  • WhichEV Awards 2020: The Year’s Best EVs

    465 shares
    Share 263 Tweet 84
  • How will European brands react to a sub-£8,000 electric car with four doors?

    456 shares
    Share 261 Tweet 81
  • MG ZS EV review: The best budget all-electric SUV

    330 shares
    Share 143 Tweet 78
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact the WhichEV team today

© 2020 WhichEV. Limited - All of the independent news and expert reviews you need in one publication.

No Result
View All Result
  • Buying Advice
  • Events
  • Features
  • News
  • Reviews

© 2020 WhichEV. Limited - All of the independent news and expert reviews you need in one publication.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.