Zenith has begun trialling electric vehicles among its staff in an attempt to better understand their applications for fleets.
The leasing firm currently has a pair of Nissan Leaf EVs on trial, one of which is being used for short, local trips, while the other is reserved for longer journeys and can be booked for up to a week.
Employees are required to report on their time with the vehicles after each period of use and rate the cars based on numerous criteria including cost savings, range and charging.
The company will also monitor reductions in emissions and fuel costs as a result of running the vehicles and has installed a charging point at its headquarters in Leeds.
CEO Tim Buchan said: “There has been a lot of debate about the practicalities of running electric vehicles and their cost implications.
“We felt that the time was right to take a closer look and get some genuine feedback from drivers using the electric cars as part of their business and everyday driving.
“The results will help us advise. whether electric vehicles are a suitable option for fleets and for us to provide feedback to manufacturers on our findings.”
This comes as the company appoints Claudia Rose, formerly corporate sales director at Lex Autolease, to the role of sales director.
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