A campaign to promote the benefits of low-emission cars has seen 97% of fleet drivers at B Braun make the shift to plug-in hybrids at renewal stage.

The changes at B Braun have provided enhanced visibility of cost for the company, a wider and improved choice of vehicle for drivers and an effective pay rise for employees going PHEV

The company is one of the world’s leading providers and manufacturers of healthcare solutions and has worked with Alphabet GB for its UK fleet since 2010, utilising Alphabet’s full contract hire and fleet management services to support its critical business operations.

The firms’ partnership has now seen them collaborate to help B Braun begin the move towards electrification and embrace a whole-life cost (WLC) model for its company car fleet, stepping away from its reliance on solely diesel cars. This is in line with driver feedback to extend the vehicle choice list and take advantage of low Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax rates for EVs.

To help drive the shift to PHEVs, B Braun and Alphabet spoke directly to drivers, setting up virtual ‘Driver Clinics’ to understand their needs, shape policy and engage staff in the Alphabet support services available. They also conducted an internal survey to encourage questions around the adoption of PHEVs and to help develop a set of FAQs for drivers expressing interest in going electric.

The success of the plug-in hybrid launch, and the fast uptake of PHEVs across the business, reflects the benefits of ensuring drivers were involved from the very start of the journey and keeping them at the heart of the fleet transition.

The change has also resulted in enhanced visibility of cost for the company, a wider and improved choice of vehicle for drivers and has effectively provided its employees who choose a PHEV with a pay rise, through personal cost savings made from BiK tax relief over the course of their vehicle contract.

As demand for electric continues to grow, B Braun will work with Alphabet to expand its fleet choice list even further to include pure electric vehicles and offer employees support with charging requirements.

Claire Richardson, fleet manager & procurement support, B Braun, said: “It’s been invaluable to provide our drivers with PHEV options, so they can not only embrace cost savings and get the vehicles they want, but also support the wider business objectives. This is something we couldn’t have implemented on our own and is why we continue to work so closely in partnership with Alphabet, which forms an extension of the B. Braun team and has done for over 10 years.”