The Conservation Volunteers (TCV), whose vice president is Sir David Attenborough, is taking on four zero emission Citroen e-DISPATCH vans through leasing and fleet management firm Fleet Alliance.
The Conservation Volunteers is a Doncaster-based charity founded in 1959. It operates teams of employees and volunteers from 10 offices around the UK. The charity currently has about 50 conservation projects in place across the UK, including local parks and community gardens, nature reserves, sites of special scientific interest, schools, hospital grounds, waterways, wetlands and woodlands around the country.
The vehicles are being delivered to four sites around the country – Stirling, Glasgow, Leeds and London – so that local teams can test the practicalities of running EVs. If the initial batch of four EVs proves successful, then TCV will switch more of its vans to electric power as they come up for replacement.
TCV Finance Manager, Katherine Hutt, said: “Fleet Alliance has been really helpful in sourcing this initial batch of four electric vans and providing positive financial arrangements that have been really beneficial to our cashflow – which, due to its multi-source nature, can be rather complex.
“More than that, they have also provided valuable advice and assistance in all aspects of running EVs, including battery range and installing the most appropriate chargers at our various sites from where they will be operated.
“If this trial proves successful, then we will look closely at replacing more of our vehicles to electric power, “she said.
Fleet Alliance CEO, Andy Bruce, commented: “Like many of our customers, TCV has begun its journey to, ultimately, an all-electric fleet which is very much in accord with its own mission of helping conserve the environment for future generations.
“We will provide the necessary advice and support to ensure that the transition to electrification meets their ambitions and plays a key role in helping them achieve their conservation and net zero carbon aspirations.”
Keyword: The Conservation Volunteers begins electric fleet transition