Speedy adds electric delivery vehicle to fleet

Speedy has added an electric delivery vehicle as the business continues to decarbonise its fleet.

The new Electra 27t all electric beavertail truck has the potential to save the business 59,541kg of CO2e annually when compared to diesel, which will also positively impact supply chain emissions for customers, it says.

The vehicle, which is being leased from commercial hire firm, ProHire, is specially designed to transport powered access equipment, including scissor lifts, boom lifts and mast booms.

It will be based at Speedy’s new Innovation Centre in Milton Keynes - a low carbon facility built to service the region’s customers and showcase the business’s range of net-zero tools and equipment for contractors – and will support the first building phase of the HS2 line between London and Birmingham.

The trial is part of Speedy’s strategy to transition to a fully low-carbon fleet by 2030, which recently saw the business move to fuelling delivery vehicles, HGVs and tankers with hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) at 21 of its biggest locations across the country. 

The company has also adopted targets set out under the Paris Agreement to limit global warming by up to 1.5°C – helping to achieve net-zero before 2050.

Andy Briggs, managing director at Speedy Powered Access, said: “Transporting powered access equipment requires large delivery vehicles, which translates into significant fuel use. Cutting this is a key priority for us, and the introduction of a fully electric vehicle will pave the way for our business to significantly cut its carbon footprint across the UK, while supporting our clients do the same.

“It marks a key milestone on our journey to deliver our sustainability targets as we continue to lead the hire sector towards a net zero carbon future.”

The electric delivery vehicle follows other investments by the business in helping customers to reduce carbon emissions, which include becoming the first national hire provider to switch to fuelling powered access machinery with HVO as standard, and a large investment in hybrid and electric powered machines.