FlexiHire help for Haringey food distribution centres
We are in the midst of lock-down in the UK, vehicle deliveries have ground to a halt and it’s a funny time to be in the motor industry. The DriveElectric team are working hard to help our existing and new customers in these trying times.
It’s been a different/challenging/unusual/(insert your word of choice here!) few weeks so we wanted to share a good news story with you.
Five days ago we delivered a group of electric vehicles (EVs) to Haringey Council in London, and this week those EVs have helped deliver food parcels to people in need.
Hundreds of volunteers are working for Haringey Council from distribution hubs in locations including Alexandra Palace and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to ensure vulnerable residents have the essentials they need. We are happy to have played a small part in this effort.
In this week’s #Haringey People Extra: hundreds of volunteers delivering food parcels to our most vulnerable residents, a message form the Leader and mental health support during the #coronavirus pandemic - https://t.co/vjKnqUUPO9 pic.twitter.com/URwJjGdV9N
— Haringey (@haringeycouncil) April 3, 2020
The delivery challenge
Vehicle deliveries are not happening as usual at the moment, so we took matters into our own hands to get these EVs where they needed to go. On Sunday a few members of the DriveElectric team and their families volunteered to drive some Nissan E-NV200 electric vans and an MG ZS EV to Haringey. Thank you team.
These EVs were provided on short-term FlexiHire contracts (more about those in a minute), and were needed urgently for use in food distribution hubs so that essentials can be delivered to those in need.
We observed social distancing guidelines to get from A to B so after a bit of shouting and pointing across our office car park and disinfecting keys we got the car and vans to their destination. To get the team home safely without mixing everyone up in the same car to travel back to HQ we got a bit creative asking for help from family members to drive their partners back home.
We heard on Wednesday evening, during that day alone the FlexiHire electric vehicles provided had helped deliver food to 300 people. Today that total has reached 700. We hope these EVs will continue to be of use to the people working so hard in Haringey to ensure everyone has what they need while we all keep our (social) distance.
What is ‘FlexiHire’ when it’s at home?
We were able to make these vehicles available on short term FlexiHire contracts for Haringey Council.
With FlexiHire there’s no long-term commitment, the EVs can be handed back when they are no longer needed. A traditional lease contract would normally run for 2-5 years rather than weeks or months. A FlexiHire vehicle or two can be a great option for extra capacity when needed short term. This is one of the ways we are helping our fleet customers.
If you think FlexiHire is something that could help your fleet please get in touch with our team to talk it through by calling 01628 899727 or sending us a message.
More help needed:
- Number one, we all need to stay at home, observe social distancing guidelines and be sensible with our shopping habits. Let’s look after each other.
- If you are local to Haringey and able to donate food and essential items, please contact: connectedcommunities@haringey.gov
