Hitachi Capital will use the vehicle as a pool car from its sites in Trowbridge, Newbury and Leicester. It will also be used for businesses to trial, as more of Hitachi Capital’s customers have shown a keen interest in EVs and alternative fuels.

The fleet leasing provider chose the Ampera due to its unlimited range. Its range extending petrol engine sets the Ampera apart from other EVs on the market and with 27g/km of CO2 it is has extremely low carbon emissions. This provides a total driving range of up to 360 miles.

'At Hitachi Capital we are always looking to lower our carbon emissions and increase our knowledge of EVs and the Ampera is helping us to accomplish this. This new purchase will be a helpful learning curve for the business, its employees and for our customers further expanding our knowledge and ownership of electric vehicles in the market place,' said Chris Shore, pricing manager at Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions.

The traction motors used in the Vauxhall Ampera were also supplied by Hitachi Automotive Systems Ltd, part of the Hitachi Group.