Infrastructure services company FM Conway has added two electric vans to its fleet.

The Nissan e-NV200s have been supplied by Enterprise Flex-E-Rent, and are being used for highway maintenance in the London boroughs of Croydon, Kensington and Chelsea and Hammersmith and Fulham.

The electric vans are said to be among the first to be sourced under flexible rental.

It is hoped their use in and around London will demonstrate how they can play an integral role in establishing sustainable fleets, at a time when van operators are preparing for the introduction of London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone in April.

FM Conway asset manager John Tobin said: “FM Conway has always strived to be at the forefront of fleet innovation in the construction industry, whether to lead on road safety standards or showcase best practice in reducing carbon footprint.

“When we started to talk to Enterprise about electric vans, it became clear that on both sides we wanted to demonstrate how they could be effective as part of a sustainable working fleet.”

Tobin said many companies that have invested in electric vans have found it can take time to find the right applications for them.

He explained: “This trial is helping us to see how we can integrate more electric vehicles across our business and we have recently installed electric charging points at our vehicle depots to pave the way for further investment.

“So far, the two vehicles have been a huge success. Our drivers are recharging them about once every three days.

“They look and are used exactly like every other van in our fleet – except, of course, with zero emissions.”

Enterprise Flex-E-Rent managing director Danny Glynn said: “Many organisations are still unclear about the role that electric vehicles play within a working fleet, given current costs and the charging infrastructure.

“This is why we were so keen to partner with FM Conway on this project. We wanted to demonstrate that there are clear applications for electric vans.

“Emissions legislation is emerging as a number one priority as towns and cities across the country try to improve urban air quality.

“With many high-profile contracts in central London, FM Conway is the perfect partner to showcase the potential of electric vehicles in reducing emissions in urban areas.”