Lex Autolease is offering fleets the chance to test the Renault Kangoo Z.E. 33 electric van for up to two weeks at a time, enabling a more in-depth insight of the EV’s capabilities for operators.

Operators can now test the Renault Kangoo Z.E. 33 electric van for up to two weeks at a time under the Lex Autolease initiative

The free test drives – which are significantly longer than the typical two- to three-day test drives available direct from Renault – will see vans delivered to and collected from customers by a trained commercial vehicle specialist, while all businesses that sign up will receive guidance and support for the full duration of the test from the Lex Autolease CV Specialist team.

The programme will initially be open for 12 months and has already seen interest from major fleets including Britvic, Mitie and Lancer Scott.

Simon Mohun, national field service manager at Britvic, commented: “Integrating an electric van into our fleet for a full two weeks means we can confidently assess whether and how to start transitioning towards zero emission technology.

“As well as minimising the impact of our operations on the environment, we’re keen to take advantage of the whole-life cost benefits of having electric vehicles on fleet, where they’re the right option for the job.”

The scheme is the latest initiative from Lex Autolease, which in January this year launched its EV1000 fund, which provides £1,000 towards the cost of the first 1,000 pure electric vehicles leased and has seen strong take-up; the firm now says it operates the largest pure electric LCV fleet in the country, with 727 orders delivered and an additional 411 orders taken to date. The business also offers a number of different powertrain types on its car and LCV rental fleet.

Mark Grundy, strategic product and proposition manager – commercial vehicles at Lex Autolease, commented: “As fleet partner to more than 41,000 UK businesses, we are committed to helping customers navigate the ever-evolving technological, regulatory and legislative landscape. An increasingly important part of having a fit-for-purpose fleet is ensuring the most effective mix of fuel types.

“Our advice is for lower-mileage users to start the transition to electric now, taking advantage of lower fuel and maintenance costs, and enjoying unrestricted access to urban areas.  We’re working with customers to identify the most appropriate applications for the electric van while they’re using it on fleet.”