Pinnacle Group is switching to an all-electric fleet with support from its fleet management provider, Fleet Alliance.

The community-facing property and facilities management services provider set up a ‘Project Electrify’ team to start the transition to an all-electric fleet several months ago.

Working with Fleet Alliance, the business is initially welcoming 33 Nissan eNV200 vans as part of a wider plan to transition its 500-strong van fleet to fully electric models. A number of Citroen e-Berlingos are set to follow, with further orders shortly to be placed.

Pinnacle’s Group procurement manager Sarah Russell said: “Some months ago we put together an internal, cross-functional team to work on ‘Project Electrify’ with a vision to transition to an all-electric fleet.

“This initial tranche of new Nissan eNV200s is the fruition of the first part of that plan, which also includes setting up charging infrastructure at a number of our locations, with the greatest number at our Tulse Hill depot where five dual charge points are due to be installed in the new year.”

The Nissan eNV200s are on contract hire, funded through Fleet Alliance’s competitive tendering strategy. They will be operated on four year/68,000-mile operating cycles and will be provided with full maintenance. Drivers will also be provided with electric charge cards, while those who park their vehicles at home overnight can also opt for home chargers.

Going forward, every vehicle due for renewal and every new vehicle to be added to the fleet will be considered for an electric replacement - using internally defined and agreed metrics in line with recommendations from Fleet Alliance. Some specialist equipment may not currently be suitable or capable of making the transition.

Pinnacle Group operates nationally from more than 100 locations across the country providing a range of integrated services across a range of community-facing assets, including multi-tenure housing, schools, open spaces, public buildings and utilities, to both the public and private sectors.

It has been an outsourced client of Glasgow-based Fleet Alliance since late 2017.

Andy Bruce, Fleet Alliance CEO, added: “Pinnacle Group is to be applauded for its decision to transition to an all-electric fleet in a structured, disciplined and well thought through manner.

“We will, of course, be there all the way with them to ensure that the transition is a complete success and plays a key role in helping them achieve their zero net carbon ambitions.”