Marlow electric vehicle leasing company heads to Orkney for new business

Published by

Nicky Godding

Marlow-based electric vehicle leasing company DriveElectric is to supply the electric vehicles (EVs) for an innovative new Orkney smart energy island project called ReFLEX (responsible flexibility) Orkney.

Orkney already generates more than 100 per cent of its electricity demand annually from renewables. This new project will help to ensure that the Orkney community takes full advantage of its renewable energy potential through a range of low carbon transport and power services exclusive to Orkney residents and businesses, which are being made available via affordable lease financing, helping customers to avoid large upfront costs.

Launched by local energy company ReFLEX Orkney, the project demonstrates flexibility in the energy system by using technologies such as batteries, electric vehicles, smart chargers and smart meters.

To increase the use of electric vehicles, ReFLEX has an EV leasing model which offers a wide range of market-leading EVs, with strong financial incentives for early adoption. The vehicles range from superminis to estate cars, with models such as Renault ZOEs and Teslas, and a variety of vans are also available – all supplied by DriveElectric. Vehicles are available for test drives in Orkney, and the lease model includes the use of a longer-range vehicle for trips off the island.

DriveElectric won the work as a result of its experience with EVs and charging projects including My Electric Avenue and the Electric Nation. smart charging project.

My Electric Avenue was a three-year Ofgem-funded project carrying out trials to discover the impact that charging clusters of electric vehicles (EVs) might have on local electricity networks at peak times.

ReFLEX has also introduced new 100 per vent renewable electricity tariffs for Orkney residents which will help link energy technologies with ReFLEX’s integrated energy system (IES), FlexiGrid.

Mike Potter, Managing Director, DriveElectric, said: “We are delighted to be working with ReFLEX Orkney to supply electric cars for the island. DriveElectric isn’t just a vehicle leasing company, we also have extensive experience in the areas of charging and renewable energy. This project is another example of our unique expertise in bringing together vehicles and energy to reduce emissions and create more sustainable communities.”

Gareth Davies, Managing Director of ReFLEX Orkney Ltd said: “This is very timely with the UK government recently announcing an end of the sale of new petrol and diesel and cars by 2030 as part of an ambitious plan for a green industrial revolution, and yet again Orkney is ahead of the curve, ready to demonstrate to the nation how it can be done.”

The £28.5 million ReFLEX Orkney project is part funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) through the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund and match funded by private investment.

DriveElectric has been helping organisations and individuals to adopt EVs to save money, lower emissions and transition to low carbon energy since 2008.

Nicky Godding

Nicky Godding is editor of The Business Magazine. Before her journalism career, she worked mainly in public relations moving into writing when she was invited to launch Retail Watch, a publication covering retail and real estate across Europe. After some years of constant travelling, she tucked away her passport and concentrated on business writing, co-founding a successful regional business magazine. She has interviewed some of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs who have built multi-million-pound businesses and reported on many science and technology firsts. She reports on the region’s thriving business economy from start-ups, family businesses and multi-million-pound corporations, to the professionals that support their growth and the institutions that educate the next generation of business leaders.