Virgin Media and O2 UK (VMO2) have this morning taken the wraps off their first Electric Vehicles (EV), which will be used by their broadband ISP and mobile engineers. The company has just ordered 280 such vans (Vauxhall e-Vivaros) as a first step toward replacing their entire 4,300 strong fleet with EVs by 2030.
Just for some context, the Vauxhall e-Vivaro vans tend to cost from around £29,200 +vat (including plug-in Van Grant of £6,000) for a 50kWh battery variant with a range of up to 143 miles (WLTP), but there’s also a 75kWh model that can do up to 205 miles. However, we don’t know exactly which of those VMO2 have ordered.
Furthermore, any VMO2 workers who are assigned to these new vans will be able to have their own EV charging point installed at home, with the operator picking up the tab for all the costs and charges. We should point out that VMO2 also offers EV charging for employees at its Slough, Reading and Hammersmith office sites.
The move complements their existing Liberty Charge project, which is currently leveraging Virgin Media’s engineers and national broadband network, while aiming to deploy 500 public street-side EV charging points by the end of 2022 (here) – this charging network will be operational in 6 local authorities by the end of this year.
Tracey Herald, VMO2’s Head of Corporate Sustainability, said:
“With a fleet of 4,300 vehicles visiting millions of homes and businesses every year, we have a responsibility to swap to cleaner, more sustainable alternatives as soon as possible. I’m proud that we’re introducing the first EVs to our fleet, and giving our valued field engineers access to the charge points they need to keep moving.
The only way to encourage businesses and the public to make the switch to EVs in time for the UK’s 2050 net zero target is by making vehicle charging points widely available and accessible to all. We’re eagerly anticipating the Government’s EV strategy and plans for wider infrastructure rollout, and together with Liberty Charge, we’re committed to using our expanding national network and street furniture to help put charging points where they need to be – and drive the UK towards net zero.”
We should point out that VMO2 aren’t the only UK telecoms operator with EVs on the brain. Openreach (BT) also plan to convert their entire fleet to EVs by 2030 (here) and last year saw them purchase a similar number of Vivaro-e vans, as well as a smaller number of the Corsa-e cars.
The battery capacity should be kwh surely?
Yes, but you know exactly what I mean either way :).
If we’re discussing kwh v kWh then kWh is correct as the unit is a Watt (W) and Watt is a proper noun and as such has an uppercase W 🙂
If I’ve missed the point then forgive me 🙂
No. What a waste. Merely a gimmick. Never going to happen.
Why would anyone would take that over a Transit Custom with the high roof?
How you ment to stand up in the back?
No need as fully custom racking making pullout draws at the rear doors
Fully tested one
I’d be fascinated to know what the real range was with a full load in the back.
I’ve towed a 2,000kg JCB electric digger with my TeslaX – sulrisdinglr quick but the range was about halved.
Fully tested with a full load of tools a CPE done 190m
Still in talks at the moment