Addison Lee, one of London’s largest private transport providers, has announced plans to invest £160m to shift its 4,000-strong vehicle fleet to all-electric by 2023.
The company has chosen the Volkswagen ID.4 to begin its transition, with the initial roll out to begin in November 2021. Some 200 EVs will then be added into the fleet every month from that point onward.
The commitment reportedly marks the largest single order of EVs in the private hire industry and is said to set Addison Lee two years ahead of other major operators’ plans to transition to electric in the UK capital.
Liam Griffin, CEO of Addison Lee, said: ‘‘Over the years, we have invested in our vehicles and technology to ensure we do all we can to make London a greener place. We are now going even further, by partnering with Volkswagen to invest in a rapid transition to electric.
“In doing so, we can help more businesses reduce their carbon footprint and give passengers greater access to green, safe and premium transport options as life gets back to normal.’’
Addison Lee has also invested into a Future of Mobility Fund, which will see £3.5m support the firm’s transition to EVs, carbon-offsetting for non-electric vehicles while the transition is underway, and environmental projects in London.
Addison Lee has also vowed to play an active role in bolstering the charging infrastructure for EVs and supporting drivers with access to chargepoints, both of which the company regards as critical to the success of a full fleet transition to electric.
‘’We know that there is strong appetite from passengers, businesses and drivers for electrification, but there is still more to do to ensure that the right infrastructure is in place to overcome the unique challenges around transitioning fleets,” said Griffin.
“We look forward to working with both national and London policymakers to develop the support available for fleets as they switch to electric and sharing our data to improve the capability and capacity of London’s rapid charging network.’’
