Bott has opened a new, flexible workspace which in future can be designated entirely to hybrid and e-vehicle conversions.

The £1 million 1,200 square metre extension to their main vehicle conversion facilities in Ashby de la Zouch was officially opened last month. It provides up to 25 additional conversion bays, making a total of more than 80 flexible spaces on the site.

The new building includes three pre-delivery inspection bays suitable for work on alternative fuel vehicles.

The whole extension can also be separated off when required, enabling the Bott team to convert larger batches of vans in a segregated area.

Importantly, says Bott, this will enable access to be restricted at appropriate times to only those trained to work safely around electric and hybrid vehicles.

The workshop also has six new flexible EV charge points able to react to power demands across the site and a further 14 on site charging points planned for 2020.

The new building was opened by Bott managing director Kevin Woodward. He said: “I am delighted with this additional development to the Ashby site. It will enable Bott to maintain the flexibility required to deliver changing customers’ needs, including for EVs and future vehicle solutions.”

From racking and graphics to complex tailored vehicles, Bott aims to deliver solutions for fleets of all sizes and was named ‘Converter of the year’ at the Commercial Fleet Awards in both 2017 and 2018.

Bott supports the FTA Van Excellence initiative as Gold partners and has also invested in dedicated in-house compliance expertise. Combined with more than 35 years of experience in converting vehicles, this enables the team to help guide customers through the breadth of considerations required to operate a safe, compliant and efficient blended van fleet, it said.