Travis Perkins-owned CCF, has worked in collaboration with Skelmersdale, Lancashire-based, Electra, to launch the UK’s first 27 tonne curtainside Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV), with 287kwh traction batteries.
The new vehicle represents CCF’s commitment to drive innovation across its customer operations in support of a low-carbon future.
The brand-new 27-tonne BEV, which is the first of its size and type in the UK, is the product of three years of development driven forward by CCF.
The BEV has been manufactured and supplied through 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. The CCF vehicle has been awarded a five-star rating under the London Direct Vision Standards, 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.
Catherine Gibson, Managing Director of CCF, said: “CCF is proud to have launched the UK’s first 27 tonne BEV. As a business we are always striving to raise the bar of our service proposition and make good on our Completely Customer Focused service approach. 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.”
Christina Calderato, TfL’s Head of Transport Strategy and Planning, said: “This is a pioneering electric vehicle for its size and is demonstrating the highest standards we look for both environmentally and for safety. New requirements for the Low Emission Zone and the Direct Vision standard are cleaning up the capital’s toxic air and reducing danger for vulnerable users. The innovation behind the manufacture of this vehicle is industry leading. 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.”
Ben Smith, Managing Director at Electra, said: “Electra Commercial Vehicles is proud to deliver the first 27-tonne battery-electric truck of its sort. Through this strategic partnership with CCF, we are progressing towards cleaner, noiseless, low emission transport for the construction industry supply sector, which has seen a significant surge during the pandemic.
“Not only does this help clean up the air we breathe, but it also promotes driver wellbeing along the way. The vehicle with its on board chargers can be charged from any 32/63 amp supply, this means it can be charged from any site with a 3 phase power supply. With an end of life strategy in place for all our batteries from the vehicles in energy storage, these vehicle’s will have an incredibly positive effect on our planet.”
