The firm, which provides connection and metering services for all ESB electricity customers, ordered a mixture of Smith Edison vans, based on the Ford Transit panel van and Smith Newton 10-tonne trucks.

The zero-emission vehicles will be used in Dublin, Cork, Dundalk, Waterford and Portlaoise as part of ESB Networks’ commitment of carbon footprint reduction.

The firm currently has about 50 electric vehicles in its 2,700-vehicle fleet.

‘These vans are doing the exact same work that their diesel equivalents can do in urban areas,’ said John Seale, investment manager of ESB Networks Fleet & Equipment.

The vans are fitted with a 90kw motor and the latest lithium-ion batteries manufactured by Valence. Top speed is limited to 50mph (85km/h) for urban use and a range of up to 100 miles (160km) is achievable on a single charge. The cost of charging the batteries is as low as €3.00.