London’s largest private hire and taxi firm Addison Lee has today announced an investment of £30 million in 600 brand new, zero-emission capable (ZEC) VW multivans.
These vehicles will replace the remaining diesel people carriers on the fleet, with Addison Lee’s entire standard passenger fleet set to be zero emission capable by April 2024.
The new vehicles offer passengers a sustainable version of the iconic, premium vehicles for which Addison Lee is famous. They feature fully configurable seating for up to six people and represent the next step up in luxury passenger experience.
The move reflects the firm’s continued commitment to electrification, while providing customers with a wide range of premium vehicles to meet all their transport needs.
Leading the market in sustainable transport in London
With over 1,000 fully electric ID.4s on its fleet, Addison Lee has invested significantly in sustainable vehicles as well as in London’s infrastructure to ensure drivers have access to reliable charging options.
The acquisition earlier this year of sustainable operator ‘Green Tomato Cars’ strengthened the firm’s position as the capital’s largest private hire, taxi and same day courier business, while also bringing a wide range of full electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrids onto the fleet.
Meanwhile Addison Lee has built strategic partnerships with bp pulse, ChargePoint and Bonnet, as well as an investment of £150,000 to install ultra-rapid charging points at the company’s West Drayton fleet hub.
Addison Lee CEO Liam Griffin says, “For nearly 50 years, we’ve been providing our customers with the highest levels of service and comfort. And following the pandemic, we have established ourselves back at the forefront of the industry in London – raising the bar for quality, sustainability and choice.
“Today, our focus is on enhancing our fleet and investing in the capital’s charging infrastructure, so we continue to lead the industry on sustainability while supporting our customers with their net zero journeys.”
“As the first private hire operator in London to introduce electric vehicles at scale, we remain committed to operating a zero emissions fleet. However, our experience has since shown us that we need to be pragmatic about how we achieve this.
“Right now, there is neither the availability of vehicles nor robust enough charging infrastructure in London to go fully electric at speed and scale. That’s why we’re investing today in a broader range of sustainable options to meet current demand from passengers – while remaining committed to our long-term goal of full electrification.
“It’s critical that we have both the right infrastructure and regulation in place to allow us to achieve this. That’s why we’re asking the Mayor of London to reconsider his plans to abolish the congestion charge exemption for electric vehicles. Removing this vital incentive will make it more costly to operate electric vehicles in the capital and jeopardise his net zero 2030 ambition for the city.”
