Private hire giant Addison Lee is to switch its 4,000-strong vehicle fleet to fully electric vehicles by 2023 under a £160m investment.

From November, Addison Lee will start deploying 200 EVs to its fleet every month, starting with the Volkswagen ID.4

The firm said the roadmap places the business two years ahead of plans from major competitors to go electric and well ahead of the 2030 ICE ban. It also marks the largest single order of electric vehicles in the private hire industry.

From November, Addison Lee will start deploying 200 EVs to its fleet every month, starting with the Volkswagen ID.4. The move supports the Government’s 10-point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution in the run up to 2050. The transition will also contribute to the Mayor of London’s 2030 net zero target for the capital.

Addison Lee’s CEO, Liam Griffin, said: “As the transport provider of choice for many businesses and passengers, we know that we play a critical role in London’s transport network. 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.”

To support its commitments, Addison Lee has invested into a Future of Mobility Fund. The £3.5m fund will be used by Addison Lee to invest in key areas for a greener London, including the firm’s transition to electric vehicles, carbon-offsetting for non-electric vehicles while the transition is underway, and environmental projects in London.

Addison Lee has also vowed to play an active role in bolstering the charging infrastructure for electric vehicles and supporting drivers with access to charge points.

Liam Griffin continued: “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. We look forward to working with both national and London policymakers to develop the support available for fleets as they switch to electric and sharing our data to improve the capability and capacity of London’s rapid charging network.”

The deal with Volkswagen for the ID.4 electric SUVs builds on the firms’ longstanding partnership.

Volkswagen UK’s head of fleet Nick O’Neill said: “We have a strong and positive relationship with Addison Lee. Over 1,000 vehicles have been provided in recent years and we understand the high demands the company places upon all the cars in its fleet.

“That Addison Lee has chosen the ID.4 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.”