Highway services company Ringway has received delivery of what it claims is the UK’s first fully-electric 7.2-tonne IVECO Daily cage tipper for its Hounslow Highways contract.
Guest Truck and Van supplied the specially adapted commercial vehicle, which is reportedly the first of its type within the UK, and will allow for more sustainable ways of working on site.
Ringway commissioned a full conversion of the vehicle, which normally comes from the factory with a standard Euro-6 diesel engine. This has been fully replaced with a zero-emission all-electric drivetrain, which should contribute to better air quality, safer working, and quieter operations in Hounslow.
Mike Notman, managing director, Ringway, said: “Investing in electric and low carbon fleet, like this very special 7.2-tonne Iveco Daily, is helping us to make real changes to the carbon impacts of our operations for our local and strategic highway authority clients.
“As we continue to work with key suppliers and chosen fleet and plant manufacturers, we are starting to change the tide in what is possible. This vehicle will start to push the range and capacity of what is achievable in a greener fleet and we know that manufacturers will increasing offer zero emission as the standard in the coming years.”
The purpose-built IVECO 7.2-tonne chassis cab was fitted by Mackworth Conversion in Derby with a custom designed, lightweight Mackworth electro-hydraulically operated caged tipper body and tail lift for street cleansing operations in Hounslow.
Conversion from diesel was completed in the UK by Astra Vehicle Technologies and features a 115kWh energy storage system and 150kW/1250Nm electric drive motor. With a 3.3-tonne payload, up to 50mph road speed and a drive range of almost 188 miles, the modified cage tipper is suitable for the urban utility vehicle sector.
The specialist conversion represents a significant investment compared to the standard fossil fuel drivetrain; over three times the capital cost, but the Ringway said it believes this will increasingly be the future to meet UK carbon targets for 2030, 2035 and 2050.
The pilot vehicle is part of a wide-ranging environmental strategy and is part of an ongoing significant investment toward creating a fleet greener, and more sustainable ways of delivering services across all its operations by 2030.
