The deal builds on an existing relationship between the two companies, with E.ON’s field engineers already using the Hilux pickup nationwide. All 12 cars will be monitored using telematics to help compare environmental performance to the rest of the fleet.

Marco Mazzafiore, system support manager at E.ON, commented: ‘We’re committed to helping our own customers reduce their energy use, saving them money on their bills and lowering carbon emissions, and we’re keen to do the same within our field sales fleet.’

Neil Broad, general manager of Toyota and Lexus Fleet Services, said: ‘E.ON’s decision demonstrates how customers are no longer considering hybrid to be a niche or specialist choice, but view it as a mainstream option.’