Titled "Electric Flex", the new product is based on the normal package but will also allow customers to use up to four weeks of normal car use per annum. The use of the second car can be taken with minimal notice, and at the customer’s discretion – in a full week block or just for a day at a time.

Fleet Evolution director Andrew Leech said: ‘Our new scheme means customer can take an electric car safe in the knowledge there is an alternative car available if they need it. While electric cars are great for the environment and provision for them is improving, they are simply not practical for long distances. This is an issue for our customers when choosing a salary sacrifice car, which is why we have implemented the Electric Flex package. Anyone taking an electric car can have peace of mind, so whether it’s for a week-long family holiday or a family emergency, customers can use an alternative car with minimal notice.’

The announcement from the firm follows the news late last year of Zenith’s new “E-Motion” strategy under which the firm is offering all types of electric vehicles – including the new BMW i3 – to both salary sacrifice and company car drivers.

Under the strategy, salary sacrifice drivers will be protected from depreciation risks and will be offered seven days of daily rental of a fossil-fuelled vehicle, for journeys outside of the electric vehicle’s range.

Fleet Evolution added that the introduction of its Electric Flex scheme is intended to persuade even more people to choose electric vehicles. Last year the firm reduced its customers’ motoring carbon footprint by 42% by replacing older vehicles with newer models.

‘Some customers still prefer the reliability of a car with a traditional engine,’ added Leech. ‘To overcome this, we are offering electric car customers up to four weeks use of a normal car each year, in a bid to get more people driving eco-friendly vehicles. The only reason people would need an alternative car is to drive very long distances, which most people wouldn’t need to do more than 28 days per annum.’