ALPHABET, the mobility solutions provider, aims to increase its sales of electrics vehicles from 35 in 2013 to 500 in 2014.
That’s a big step up.
No, make that a massive step.
But chief executive officer, Richard Schooling, seemed unfazed by the idea when I caught up with him at the launch of AlphaElectric at the Saatchi Gallery, London.
AlphaElectric is the company’s new consultancy service to help businesses make the move to electric cars.
It analyses whether a fully electric car, or a plug-in hybrid would be suitable for your firm’s company cars. Or not, as the case might be.
AlphaElectric’s 4 mobility packs offer access to a combustion car when needed – such as holiday times
“We’re not trying to flog everyone an electric vehicle,” explains Richard.
“Let’s go through the analytical journey before you spend a pound on an electric car. It may not work in every single case.
“But my aspiration for this is not just a halo effect. I want to have 400-500 vehicles go through our AlphaElectric programme in 2014 – whether that’s plug-in hybrid or EV (electric vehicle).”
Richard points out that EVs have hardly been the runaway success some car companies had anticipated. Only 138 units were sold in 2010 and 1082 were sold in 2011.
However, sales started to rise in 2012 with 2254 cars registered, and up to August 2013 there has been a further 70% increase.
“With an expanding range of plug-in vehicles on the market, a growth in the number of public charging points and further government investment of £37m for infrastructure, we’re confident of strong growth in EV adoption for the next few years,” Richard adds.
Richard says that one of the key items that came out of the research into companies baulking at taking up electric cars was the occasional need for a combustion car when most of the time and electric vehicle was more practical and economical.
So the AlphaElectric product includes a range of four mobility packs ranging in price from £13-£53 a month.
