The Association of Fleet Operators (AFP) has introduced its first-ever electric van course for fleets making the switch.

Training comprises five modules – the eLCV ecosystem, vehicles, evaluation, total cost of ownership and operations, and future state

The course, which will first take place on Thursday 9 September, will follow a similar format to the industry body’s existing one-day electric car course, which was launched earlier this year.

The new course has been created by well-known eLCV expert Paul Kirby in conjunction with the AFP, and will be delivered by him alongside the AFP’s Peter Eldridge. It will be hosted using video conferencing and lasts 5-6 hours.

Training comprises five modules – the eLCV ecosystem, vehicles, evaluation, total cost of ownership and operations, and future state.

Paul Hollick, chair at the AFP, said: “The electric car course has been one of the key achievements of the AFP to date, helping many fleet professionals to begin planning their electrification transition.

“Its new eLCV equivalent aims to do the same for light commercial vehicle operators and we are sure will be similarly successful, especially thanks to the involvement of Paul Kirby, who is one the country’s best-informed voices in this field.

“We’ve priced the course to make it highly accessible and we’re also aiming to make it extremely interactive, with Q&A sessions and other online means of communication to ensure that everyone attending can derive the maximum benefit.

“We’re expecting interest to be high and are also planning to repeat the course regularly over the next year or more. This is an area where it seems certain that demand for fleet expertise will grow very quickly in the near future.”

Kirby, who has just launched his own EV Essentials consultancy, said: “I’m very pleased to be working alongside the AFP on this project. Interest in eLCVs is growing apace and there is considerable demand for a course of this type.”

The cost of attendance is £225 for AFP and ICFM members and £295 for non-members. For more details, visit www.theafp.co.uk or email administration@theafp.co.uk.