Boots customers in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire will be the first in the UK to have their prescriptions delivered by EVs.
Boots are introducing five electric Renault Kangoo iVans to its fleet, which runs the service that picks up prescriptions and delivers them to patient’s homes.
These are the first electric vans to be purchased by Boots, and form part of the business’s commitment to continue to reduce the environmental impact of its operations.
The step should result in reduction of environmental footprint by approximately 22 carbon tonnes per year.
If successful, the pilot will be expanded to other areas in the UK.
Each zero emission vehicle is fitted with Lightfoot Technology, a real-time engine analysis system that provides live, in-cab coaching to help drivers improve both fuel efficiency and safety.
Nottingham City Transport’s Ultra Low Emission Vehicle Scheme has supported the pilot by helping to installing charging stations on the Boots site to power the new EVs.
Eddie Storr, head of supply chain pharmacy, Boots UK, said: “Running over 9,500 routes a week with a van fleet of 900, we are continually looking at ways to improve both the efficiency of our service and its environmental impact.
“Over the last six months, we have achieved significant mileage reductions through better route planning and the next step on our journey is to reduce our carbon footprint by introducing zero emission delivery vehicles.
“Following the launch in Nottingham, we are looking at other locations around the country to expand our electric fleet.”
