Medium-term rental specialist Meridian Vehicle Solutions has deployed the first electric vehicles on its fleet, targeting fleets and drivers looking to try out the technology.

Managing director Phil Jerome said Meridian Vehicle Solutions would like to add more EVs but much depends on vehicle supply and pricing

It’s making a number of Audi e-trons available for rental for leases from periods of 3-12 months, with vehicles delivered new directly from the dealer.

The firm added its first hybrids two years ago as changing customer appetites prompted it to cover new fuel types and has been exploring the addition of EVs since.

Phil Jerome, managing director, explained: “Like any rental provider to the company car sector, we need to be adding electric vehicles to our fleet to meet future needs and this seems like the right moment to take that step.

“Initially, we expect interest to be high from businesses and company car drivers who are curious about EVs but remain cautious about the technology and don’t want to jump straight in and take out a long-term lease. Here, we are providing an option that allows them to see whether an EV will fit in with their work and personal motoring needs.

“Our feeling is that, once they have tried out an EV over an extended period of time, they will come to be strong advocates of the technology.”

Jerome said that the plan is to add more EVs during the rest of 2020 but the overall number of EVs being added to the Meridian fleet would remain relatively low for the next few months because of limited availability and high prices in relation to comparable petrol and diesel models.

“Much will depend on the supply situation and the kind of pricing that the market will accept. Providing EVs into the medium-term rental sector remains relatively uncharted territory,” he continued.