City of London Corporation fleet gets three new EVs

Three brand new, fully electric vehicles are joining the City of London Corporation’s fleet, bringing the organisation a step closer to realising its goal of being the first authority to run a fully zero-emission fleet.

The EV80, which is manufactured by the largest automotive company in China, SAIC Maxus, and distributed in the London area by Heathrow LDV, will help the City Corporation deliver of some of its key services across London.

The vehicles will service the Barbican Library in the Square Mile, the City of London Cemetery and Crematorium in Manor Park and the Heathrow Animal Reception Centre at Heathrow Airport.

The EV80 is the first fully electric vehicle launched within Heathrow LDV’s stable of commercial vehicles. It boasts a 120-mile range on a single charge and, thanks to its high-capacity lithium battery, can be fully charged in less than 90 minutes.

The vehicles, which are Ultra Low Emission Zone compliant and designed for urban driving, are already being used by delivery and utility companies around the UK, together with selected city councils across the country.

Mark Barrett, General Manager of LDV UK & Ireland, said: “Electric-powered vehicles are fast becoming the new norm and more and more fleet buyers and van drivers are moving from fuel-dependent engines to hybrids and pure-electric models. Such a move is an investment in the future of a fleet and the future of the planet, and there has never been a better time to make the change to emission-free fleets.”