AlphaElectric is being rolled out across all European markets where Alphabet operates and, although the company is part of BMW Group, it is available for all makes and models, including commercial vehicles.

The company said it hopes this will help to double plug-in sales to 10,000 units within the next three years in the UK. 

Designed to offer as much choice as possible, the service is completely modular and based around four areas, addressing concerns about suitability, cost, range and both public and businesses' own charging equipment – customers are able to take advantage of as many, or as few, as they wish. 

These comprise analysis of the existing fleet to find out where plug-in vehicles can replace conventionally powered models, identifying which cars and vans are best suited to their needs and the environmental and cost savings they offer and providing home and office charging solutions through a partnership with EDF Energy.

The service also includes mobility solutions, giving access to conventionally powered cars for short-term loans, providing a membership card to access 85% of the UK's public charging infrastructure, adding electric vehicles to the AlphaCity corporate car sharing scheme and offering flexible leases and three to six month rentals for plug-ins with the option to continue the lease or hand them back if they don't suit the customer's needs. 

UK chief executive, Richard Schooling, said: 'While there is so much talk about limited battery life, car performance and available charging points, we think the single biggest barrier to EV adoption, both privately and corporately, is lack of joined-up thinking.

'Manufacturers of various new EV models have possibly focused on the benefits of their own vehicles, with not enough time and effort being spent on helping the business or driver to overcome their fears about adopting a new technology.'