Belco has just completed electric vehicle training for its fleet team as it moves towards a 100 per cent electric fleet.

The five-day training was carried out by Craig Van Batenburg of Massachusetts-based Automotive Career Development Centre.

Jason Simons, Anton Daniels, Nigel Lewis, Aesop Smith and Andrew Cabral completed the training session and Belco hopes to move to City and Guilds qualifications for all Belco participants.

Mr Simons, fleet manager, said: “Ultimately, our goal is to be Bermuda’s number one service provider for electric vehicles. Already, our technicians have gained valuable insight from this training. While this will obviously help our fleet, we also aim to be the example of what is possible for the transition of corporate fleets to electric vehicles in Bermuda.”

Belco began the electric conversion of its fleet in 2016, when it replaced 12 diesel vans with Renault Kangoo Maxi ZE vans. To date, 13 internal-combustion engine vehicles have been replaced with full electric vans. By June 2018, all of Belco’s bucket truck fleet will comprise hybrid vehicles, and 78 per cent of the van fleet will be electric by the end of the year.

Mr Simons said: “We are on track to realise our goal of a 100 per cent electric fleet by 2025. In the near future, five of the remaining gasoline vans will be replaced by the Peugeot Partner Electric and we have begun receiving our hybrid bucket trucks. The bucket trucks will allow the aerial device to operate with electric power while the truck engine shuts off.”