Addison Lee is investing £160 million to make its 4,000-strong private hire fleet in London fully electric by 2023, beginning with an initial order for 450 Volkswagen ID4s.
The introduction of the new EVs will start in November, with an expected 200 vehicles joining the fleet each month.
Addison Lee has also invested £3.5m into a Future of Mobility Fund, which will support drivers with charging infrastructure.
The company says it wants to play an active role in improving the charging infrastructure for EVs and supporting drivers with access to charge points.
Liam Griffin, Addison Lee’s CEO said: “Over the years, we have invested in our vehicles and technology to ensure we do all we can to make London a greener place. We are now going even further, by partnering with Volkswagen to invest in a rapid transition to electric.
“In doing so, we can help more businesses reduce their carbon footprint and give passengers greater access to green, safe and premium transport options as life gets back to normal.
‘’We know that there is strong appetite from passengers, businesses and drivers for electrification, but there is still more to do to ensure that the right infrastructure is in place to overcome the unique challenges around transitioning fleets.
“We are leading the industry in making electric vehicles viable for large fleet operations and have found innovative ways to support drivers with their charging needs.”
Nick O’Neill, Volkswagen UK’s head of fleet added: “That Addison Lee has chosen the ID4 as its initial route to large scale electrification is a huge vote of confidence in this exceptional new car, the support available via Volkswagen UK, and the quality of our brand.”
