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LEVC supplying a fleet of 22 new zero-emission VN5 electric vans to plant hire specialist
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Part of recent £1.1 million investment by Sunbelt Rentals into eco-friendly transport
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New VN5 fleet is at the core of Sunbelt Rentals’ sustainability strategy
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Sunbelt Rentals forms part of FTSE 100 company Ashtead Group plc and is the UK’s largest equipment rental company
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LEVC’s VN5 now available at Sunbelt Rentals’ expansive network of UK rental locations
Ansty : LEVC (London Electric Vehicle Company) today announces another fleet supply deal with the establishment of a new partnership with Sunbelt Rentals – the UK’s largest equipment rental group – to supply 22 new VN5 electric vans.
LEVC’s sector-leading VN5 electric van, which offers zero range anxiety thanks to its eCity range extender technology, is successfully meeting ever-growing demand from businesses for sustainable, zero-emission transport. As part of Sunbelt Rentals’ new £1.1 million investment that will transform its eco-friendly solutions to meet customer demands, the new fleet of VN5s will play a crucial role in the company’s sustainability strategy.
LEVC’s VN5 will aid Sunbelt Rentals’ ‘Our Planet’ plan, centred on its commitment to reduce the carbon intensity of its operations by 35% by 2030. LEVC’s green VN5 is ideally suited to the demands of the workplace thanks to its flexible, tried and tested eCity powertrain that already features in LEVC’s TX electric taxis around the globe, enabling drivers and operators to cover long distances and also enter Clean Air Zones emissions-free.
Joerg Hofmann, LEVC CEO, added: “I am delighted to announce Sunbelt Rentals as another of our fleet customers in the UK. VN5 is the ideal solution for businesses looking to electrify their fleet and transition to greener mobility, offering zero-emission capability with minimal downtime and no range anxiety.”
David Phillips, Sunbelt Rentals’ Logistics and Supply Chain Director, comments: “Investing in electric vehicles is a natural fit for Sunbelt Rentals; we’re always keen to stay ahead of the curve and future proof the business with increasingly sustainable practices.
“We’ve chosen to work with LEVC as our values are very similar, they’re passionate about their business and are willing to support our ambitious plan to electrify our fleet of vehicles. Through our ‘Our Planet’ action plan and in line with our Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategy it is our commitment to reducing carbon intensity by 35% by 2030 and, at the moment, more than 80% of our total emissions come from the vehicles that we operate.
“The VN5 is made from sustainably-sourced aluminum from Wales, and they fit the needs of our multiple business units, making them the ideal asset for the business. We have undertaken some good work to reduce our emissions in recent years which included switching to more economical and less polluting diesel-powered engines, but we recognize that we need to do more.”
Designed, engineered and built at LEVC’s state of the art electric vehicle factory in Ansty, Coventry, VN5 utilizes the same strong, lightweight bonded aluminum monocoque and SMC construction as the TX taxi – a first in sector for the 1-tonne van segment, designed to last twice as long as the competition.
VN5 is based on the same innovative architecture and proven eCity technology as LEVC’s TX electric taxi. With a pure EV range of over 60 miles and a total flexible range of 304 miles, VN5 is ideally suited to urban deliveries in zero-emission mode, as well as longer journeys outside of town. The more frugal driver could achieve a 76-mile pure EV city range, according to WLTP city methodology*.
With up to 5.5m3 capacity, VN5 cargo capacity easily accommodates two Euro sized pallets and offers a gross payload of up to 830kg. It has been built with a large side-loading door (enabling a pallet to be side-loaded) and a 60/40 split door at the rear to make loading and unloading easy for the driver.
LEVC’s VN5 electric van is now available from Sunbelt Rentals’ expansive network of UK rental locations.
About LEVC
LEVC’s history began in 1908 when the first dedicated black cab was specially designed and commissioned for use in London. With its unmistakable silhouette and classic design cues, this iconic British vehicle has defined the company for over a century. In 2018, LEVC introduced its latest taxi model, the electric TX. TX is the world’s cleanest, most advanced taxi ever, powered by LEVC’s revolutionary eCity technology.
LEVC manufactures its purpose-built, range extended electric TX taxi and TX shuttle models at a state-of-the-art factory in Ansty, Coventry. Since 2014, Geely has invested more than £500m into LEVC, allowing it to build an entirely new eco-friendly manufacturing facility, the UK’s first dedicated to the production of electric vehicles.
In November 2019, LEVC started production of its first non-taxi model with the launch of VN5, a medium-sized electric van. Utilising the same eCity technology as TX, VN5 offers both zero-emission capability and zero range anxiety, a critical combination for commercial vehicle operators.
A new central European sales office in Frankfurt was established in 2019 to increase LEVC’s presence across Europe and further new markets such as Middle East, New Zealand and Australia will continue to increase the company’s export footprint. This strategy will see LEVC move from 90% domestic sales to 60% export in 2024.
Sunbelt Rentals Ltd
Sunbelt Rentals forms part of FTSE 100 Company, Ashtead Group plc and is the UK’s largest equipment rental company with over 195 service centres nationwide, more than 3,700 employees and over 35,000 customers in the construction, industrial, infrastructure, utilities and event sectors.
