Quiet and clean electric vans are being put through their paces during a six months trial aimed at establishing how they might fit into the fleet of the future.
Five Nissan E-NV 200 electric vans are currently on the road, and are being closely monitored to establish how they perform in day to day situations.
The innovative vehicles, which provide near silent motoring and produce zero emissions, have been loaned free of charge by Nissan, which is one of the car manufacturers at the forefront of electric vehicle technology. If successful the trial could pave the way for the introduction of a range of electric powered cars and small vans within our vehicle fleet.
Currently our fleet of 1035 vehicles runs on diesel fuel. The use of diesel engines contributes to air pollution which is estimated to cause 40,000 premature deaths in the UK annually. To encourage a shift from diesel vehicles, low emission zones and higher taxes for diesel vehicles are likely to be implemented in the coming years. This makes ‘cleaner’ options, such as hybrid and all-electric, the right choice ethically and economically.
However our business has opted to take action now to establish how effective electric vans could be within its car and small van fleet, in a concerted effort to meet our parent company Iberdrola’s commitment to sustainability and action on climate change.
The move also responds to a call from prominent stakeholders for SPEN to rise to the challenge of reducing CO2 emissions, and place sustainability at the core of the business. SPEN’s Sustainable Business Strategy looks to support the transition to low carbon technologies and reduce the business’s carbon footprint by 80 per cent by 2030.
Ross Henderson, Director of General Services, said: “After a significant period of industry analysis, we are pleased to support SP Energy Networks with the recent delivery of five Nissan e-NV200 fully electric vans.
“These zero emission vans represent the first use of the latest technology in electric commercial vehicles within SP Energy Networks and will be located at a handful of depots in Glasgow, Cambuslang, Telferton, Prenton and Lister Drive for a six month trial period.
“This trial will provide valuable feedback as we seek to grow our electric fleet, in order to strengthen our commitment to the environment in line with our global objective of reducing our CO2 emission intensity for the coming decades, as per our Sustainability Policy.”
Technology surrounding electric vehicles is constantly progressing, with manufacturers like Nissan now working on introducing workplace vehicles with greater capacity to travel further between charges. The time it takes to charge the vehicles is also improving.
It means that the vans currently being trialled are likely to be replaced by more efficient versions in the near future, which will travel further between charges and use up to the minute technology to ensure they are as efficient as possible.
The e-NV200 vans are capable of travelling just over 100 miles between charges and include a range of innovative features including energy-saving driving modes and a trip computer which informs users of the power used or generated, battery charge and charging times.
They can be charged using a normal 13 amp socket or dedicated charging points, which are faster, whilst their ‘regenerative braking system’ converts some of the energy lost while braking into extra charge for the vehicle. In addition, they feature heated seats and the cabin can be pre-heated or pre-cooled while charging to avoid having to use power while driving.
Intensive analysis identified key users who would be most suitable for the six months trial. They were chosen because of their location and relatively low mileage – under around 60 miles per day. Users have been asked to provide their feedback on how the vehicles perform, while telematics analysis will help build up a full picture of their suitability.
Staff taking part in the trial will still have access to their ‘conventional’ vehicle for times when they need to make longer journeys, however day to day short journeys will be in the new e-NV200 vans.
The Nissan vans were delivered to their five locations in November and December, with the final one delivered to Ray Roberts in Prenton on the 14th December – meaning the vehicle trial is now fully underway.
Mr Roberts said the move was a positive step for SPEN, in particular given the business’s role as a leader in the electricity supply industry. He added that he is looking forward to getting behind the wheel and finding out how the new electric van performs. “I think they will make a difference to the environment long term,” he said.
Darren Jameson, Sustainability Policy Specialist, said the electric vans have already received a positive response.
“So far everyone has been enthusiastic and there’s huge interest in them.
“We are looking forward to hearing what the users have to say about how they perform in a day to day environment.”