The UK’s first 27-tonne curtainside battery-electric vehicle (BEV) has been deployed by CCF, a distributor of interior building products to the construction industry.
Featuring 287kWh traction batteries, the vehicle is reportedly the first of its size and type in the UK, and follows three years of development by CCF, part of Travis Perkins Group.
The BEV has been manufactured and supplied through commercial EV manufacturer Electra, in order to complete zero-emission customer deliveries from CCF’s Harmondsworth branch, across west and central London.
With a charge time of up to seven hours, the BEV has the capacity to cover up to 120 miles on a full charge. Furthermore, the vehicle’s on-board chargers can be charged from any 32/63A supply, which means it can be charged from any site with a three-phase power supply.
Catherine Gibson, managing director of CCF, said: “Being as sustainable as possible and investing in this vehicle is not only instrumental to CCF’s delivery operations across London, but will also help to reduce harmful emissions while contributing to the UK’s ambitious sustainability targets and journey to net-zero.”
The vehicle has also been awarded a five-star rating under Transport for London’s (TfL’s) Direct Vision Standard scheme, and has been fitted with a sensor system to alert the driver to the presence of vulnerable road users, an audible vehicle manoeuvring alarm, and a five-way camera monitoring system.
Onboard weighing scales, telematics and vehicle tracking will also be used to monitor the BEV’s energy use in real time.
Christina Calderato, head of transport strategy and planning, TfL, said: “The distance that can be covered on a full charge makes switching to zero emission viable for a commercial business and the latest vehicle safety technology, such as sensors and alarms, keep pedestrians and cyclists safe from harm.”
An end-of-life strategy has also been put in place for all batteries from the vehicle in energy storage.
