VEV, the e-fleet solutions provider backed by Vitol, and UK commercial van rental business Dawsongroup vans have unveiled a flagship clean energy fleet electrification facility at Dawson Road, Milton Keynes.
VEV delivered a full turnkey solution, managing the planning, design, power connection, procurement, project management, and construction of the clean energy microgrid. The facility, which integrates solar power, battery storage, and 34 EV chargers, is located at Dawsongroup vans’ largest hub for vehicle and fleet maintenance operations.
The microgrid features a 262kWp solar energy system with two double cantilever carports. It includes 300kWh battery units that store energy from the solar panels and charge electric vehicles, reducing reliance on the national grid. Vehicles supplied to customers from Milton Keynes will be charged using renewable energy.
As part of a five-year full-service package, VEV’s proprietary data platform, VEV-IQ, will manage the microgrid and charging infrastructure. The platform uses intelligent load balancing to optimise energy consumption across the grid, solar power, and battery storage, while providing fleet managers with insights to enhance operational and cost efficiency.
Dawsongroup vans projects carbon emissions savings of 65 tonnes per year from the initiative. The new clean energy ecosystem will also be showcased through its ‘Team Target Zero’ advisors, who assist customers and suppliers with carbon reduction strategies.
With a nationwide fleet of 13,000 vehicles and a rapidly growing EV estate, Dawsongroup vans is driving innovation in commercial vehicle hire. Its Smarter Asset Strategy solutions provide businesses with the flexibility to adapt to new technologies and transition to net zero by offering guidance on alternative fuel sources, process optimisation, and energy efficiency.
Mike Nakrani, CEO of VEV, said: “We are delighted to work with a nationwide service provider that’s on a mission to inspire more fleets to make the switch to electric. It was fantastic to see the microgrid and EV infrastructure become a reality at Dawson Road in December after breaking ground in Spring 2024. We are looking forward to continuing to work closely with the team there as our experts in energy and operations leverage VEV-IQ to optimise the clean energy ecosystem and deliver cost-efficiencies for Dawsongroup vans.”
Stephen Miller, CEO of Dawsongroup, added: “As a leading player in the UK’s commercial vehicle hire sector, Dawsongroup has a desire to help lead the way in decarbonising fleets. We chose to leverage VEV’s expertise in delivering end-to-end electrification solutions for our vans business and can now show our customers how they can thrive in the electric age and meet emissions-reduction obligations. We’re delighted with our new clean energy microgrid at Dawson Road and are exploring how to bring electrification further into our business.”
