The wide range of uses for commercial vehicles means sustainability doesn’t always equal electric right now. Some journeys are currently better suited to electric vans than others. Indeed, flexible rental of a mix of ICE and electric vehicles is an option that is helping many businesses work out what will be the right fit for their future needs. And it means they can avoid acquisition or leasing of vehicles that may not be right for them in the long-term. It’s sustainable financially as well as good for the environment.

Europcar is determined to make 2024 a year of change as it becomes part of its customers’ sustainability journey, working with fleets to find the right zero or low-emissions vehicles for specific needs.

 A new report, ‘Plugged into Sustainability’, highlights the key landmarks in the company’s own sustainability journey and demonstrates how it is helping businesses and private motorists make the transition to zero-emissions mobility.

• Europcar customers drove more than 3.5 million EV miles in 2023

• 50,000 more EV rental days were driven year-on-year

• 99.5% of Europcar’s corporate customers have access to EVs

• 12% of the rental fleet was battery electric (BEV) or plug-in hybrid (PHEV) by the end of 2023 – a year-on-year increase of 379%

• Over 25% of Delivery & Collection journeys use electric cars and bikes

“We are committed to helping businesses and private motorists make the change from ICE to electric, through innovative tech-based solutions, electrification across our network, and a growing range of low and zero-emission vehicles,” explained Tom Middleditch, head of electric mobility at Europcar. 

“And we do not just ‘talk the talk’, we also ‘walk the walk’, with our rental fleet increasingly electrified as well as the integration of EVs into our own operations, such as for our Delivery & Collection service.”

Europcar’s electrified fleet now comprises a wide range of models, available to rent for a few weeks, months or more, including the Mercedes-Benz eVito which has a range of approximately 160 miles with the capacity to deal with the demands of most day-to-day business, carrying a maximum payload of 807kg and a loading space of up to 6.0m3. It is ideal for enterprises that need hard-working commercial vehicles and is a great introduction to zero-driving.

“Moving a business to a zero-emissions strategy requires clear thinking, detailed planning and a hands-on real-world experience,” added Middleditch. “Our carefully designed solutions are future-proofing the whole mobility process and already support many organisations on their sustainability journeys.”

The full report, ‘Plugged into Sustainability’, includes detailed insight into Europcar’s own sustainability journey, and how it is helping businesses reduce their fleet emissions. 

To find out more about Europcar van solutions visit www.europcar.co.uk/business