Vertellus, the UK’s newest contract rental company has a unique approach to electric trucks.
In an attempt to help its customers transition from diesel to battery power, it’s taken on 30 Renault Trucks E-Tech 16- and 18-tonne rigids. The fleet, which comprises an equal number of boxes, curtainsiders and fridges, are available to rent for a period of three months.
RH Commercial Vehicles MD Nigel Baxter, who also heads-up Vertellus, explains that this allows customers to dip their toes into the world of zero-tailpipe-emission trucks, to carry out their own research and hopefully get over any range of other operational anxieties.
“We are working with operators who have an eye on future technologies, and are maybe being cajoled, if not forced down this route by some of their suppliers and customers because of green and sustainability requirements,” he explains.
Vertellus is charging £1.50 per kWh, with customers contracting a minimum of 3,000kWh per month, which is the equivalent of 40,000km per annum. This works out at £4,500 per month, and includes all expected standard full contract hire services, and the use of a Zenobē-supplied vehicle charger.
While Baxter acknowledges that it's not cheap, in his opinion it does represent good value for money. “Personally, I don’t like to buy cheap things, I buy good value. And I think this is a good value opportunity,” he says.
To find out more bout Vertellus’ innovative approach, be sure to check out the latest Torquing Trucks Podcast with Baxter.
