Electrical contractor Barlows has acquired 22 Toyota Corolla Commercial hybrid electric vans to transport its engineering equipment.

The family business specified all vehicles with tinted windows and a 70mph speed limiter, while eight have roof racks designed for long step ladders.

Barlows, established in Cheshire more than 70 years ago, provides a range of electrical and maintenance services across the country, including the installation of domestic and commercial chargers for EVs.

The Corolla Commercial, manufactured at Burnaston, Derby, was updated at the start of 2023 with more powerful and efficient fifth generation hybrid electric technology, as well as a full complement of Toyota Safety Sense active safety and driver assistance systems.

As with all other Toyota Professional light commercial vehicles, Barlows’s will qualify for five years of free roadside assistance and warranty cover for up to 10 years or 100,000 miles.

John Barlow, Managing Director, said: “Our turnover has increased from £30 million to £40 million in the last year, so we constantly need more staff and more vans.

“With the global chip shortage still affecting supply, we’re likely to keep our vehicles for a couple of years longer than we usually would.

“This means warranties, reliability and residual values on higher mileage vehicles are more important than ever.

“Toyota is a superior brand and should meet these priorities well. We are also reducing our overall mileage by employing more engineers and operating across smaller geographical areas.”