Commercial vehicle dealerships invest £350k in electric vans
2023-02-07
Sustainability initiative to reduce emissions in Midlands and the North
Our two operating companies Hartshorne and Crossroads have invested £350,000 in electric vans to reduce carbon emissions in their respective parts delivery operations.
The latest investment forms part of a joint programme by the commercial vehicle dealerships in order to boost sustainability within the haulage sector in the Midlands and the North. The vans were added to the fleet after the successful trial of two vans purchased in August 2022 as part of the same programme.
The companies have installed charging infrastructure and taken delivery of four more electric vans, which will help meet their sustainability targets as well benefitting customers by removing carbon from the supply chain.
"We are committed to working towards a sustainable future, which will also include the continued rollout of Volvo heavy electric vehicles during 2023 and beyond," said Dave Crowley, Group Deputy Managing Director.
"This investment will not only help to meet our emissions targets, but it will also play an important role in a fast-changing world by helping our customers to meet carbon neutrality goals within their own supply chains."
The new electric vans are state of the art VN5 models manufactured by LEVC, which were designed and built in Coventry and supplied through the Paul Rigby dealership in Birmingham.
Two of the vehicles will operate from Hartshorne's Potteries depot in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire and two will be based at Crossroads’ site in Rotherham, adding to the two electric vans at the Hartshorne depot in Alfreton, Derbyshire.
The vehicles have a completely electric drivetrain fitted with a petrol range-extender that can be used in an emergency to seamlessly recharge the batteries.
"We experienced a 90% electric-only use throughout the three months trial in our operation. The vans operate routes to enable our drivers to return to base for a quick lunchtime charge ready again for afternoon deliveries, with a resulting reduction in emissions both for ourselves and the customer. We are now also installing solar PV panels in order to drive even more carbon from our business,” said Mr Crowley.
Hartshorne operates at a number of depots throughout the Midlands, whilst Crossroads operates at sites throughout Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.