The company, which won the Fleet Environmental Award for small fleets in this year’s Fleet World Honours, already operates two electric vehicles but was keen to expand the use of EVs across its fleet.

Fruit 4 London was one of the participants in the original Plugged-in Fleets Initiative (PIFI) last year, which was funded by Transport for London (TfL) and the Department for Transport (DfT), demonstrated how public and private sector organisations in the UK could significantly reduce fuel costs and carbon emissions by integrating pure electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles into their fleets.

The free review showed Fruit 4 London that it would save £9k per vehicle through switching to electric vehicles. This saving included lower running costs, 100% capital allowances, the plug-in vehicle grant and congestion charge exemption in Central London.

Laszlo Mulato, director of Fruit 4 London, said: ‘After taking part in the Energy Saving Trust’s free PIFI analysis, we now know that we can go 100% electric. The review showed us that going electric is the best business decision when expanding our fleet based on the impressive cost savings.

‘Since working with the Energy Saving Trust, we have acquired our third electric vehicle and plan to adopt more as we grow as an organisation.’

Following additional funding from the Office for Low Emission Vehicles, a second round of free EST reviews are now held under the PIugged-in Fleets Initiative 100 (PIFI 100). This new advice service offers 100 organisations in England the opportunity to receive free analysis and guidance on how plug-in vehicles might work for them. Energy Saving Trust is working in partnership with EDF Energy and Route Monkey to deliver analysis which includes advice on electric vehicle infrastructure and optimising electric vehicles use.

Current PIFI 100 participants include Red Bull, Hobart UK, Birmingham City Council, South East Coast Ambulance Service, and the University of Leeds.

To register an interest in taking part in PIFI 100, email pifi@est.org.uk or call the Energy Saving Trust transport team on 0207 227 0310. More information on PIFI 100 can be found at www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/pifi