In the first electric vehicle partnership between an energy provider and a car leasing company, British Gas will install fast-charging points at the homes of employees whose companies lease them electric cars.

The collaboration between the UK energy giant and Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions will see the cost of British Gas’s domestic charging points included in Hitachi’s EV leasing contracts.

British Gas will install and maintain the charging points, which allow eligible EV owners to charge their company vehicles three times faster than plugging the cars into the mains.

The company is boosting its efforts in the EV infrastructure market, with agreements already in place to supply charge points for Nissan’s and Renault’s electric cars. A recent industry report suggested British Gas could dominate the sector by 2012, supplying charge points to 70% of the EV market.

Fleet car registration surpassed private car registration by 15,000 last year, confirming the significant role lease vehicles could play in helping the country to meet its EV goals.

According to the UK government Committee on Climate Change, the nationwide uptake of EVs is essential if the UK is to meet its emission reduction targets – approximately 1.7 million electric cars are needed on the country’s roads by 2020.

For further information:
www.britishgas.co.uk
www.hitachicapitalvehiclesolutions.co.uk
www.hitachi.com
www.theccc.org.uk

Related stories:
UK Government failing to green road transport (5-Aug)
Mayor of London makes it easier for public sector to buy electric vehicles (25-Jul)
British Gas and npower launch electric vehicle energy tariffs (10-May)
British Gas to install charging points for Nissan LEAF (3-Mar)
Hitachi and Airbiquity join forces on connecting electric vehicles (26-Apr 2010)