British Gas has made a significant order of Ford Transits after identifying the vans as the most suited to the needs of its central heating installation engineers.
The company explained compatibility was a key consideration before it decided to purchase 520 of the vehicles, adding the model is ideal due to its 125PS 2.2-litre TDCi diesel engine, which provides class-leading economy and low emissions.
Other benefits from the move include the improved security of the Ford Transit's sizeable load capacity. This extra space means most loads can be carried inside the vehicle, as opposed to being placed on external racking.
It is also expected that the new Ford Transits will result in significant cost savings for British Gas operators, with the racking systems fitted to the existing Transit models being recycled.
Those in the market for a new van may therefore want to follow the lead of British Gas and check out the latest Ford deals on the market.
A number of features were chosen to make life a little easier for drivers, including air conditioning, a speed limiter and winter tyres, which should help them to successfully and safely navigate surfaces in the most hazardous conditions.
Colin Marriott, fleet manager at British Gas, described the decision to go with the Ford Transit as a "no-brainer".
Mr Marriott stated: "The vans used by our central heating installation engineers are a vital resource for them and they love the Transit. When we asked, they said 'give us the same again, please'.
"On top of that, by sticking with the same body shape, we have been able to take fantastic advantage of being able to recycle all the racking systems."
He explained this has resulted in the company being able to make significant savings with regard to steel, energy and overall expenditure.
Ford's direct sales manager Stephen Gafson said the Ford Transit is generally regarded as Britain's favourite van, noting this British Gas order illustrates just how popular the vehicle is among both end users and fleets hoping to use a model that is versatile and offers good value for money.
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Posted by Peter Murray