Skiploaders are electric addition for Powerday
Recycling and waste management specialist Powerday has taken delivery of two new Volvo FE Electrics, said to be among the first zero-tailpipe emission skiploaders to be put into operation in the capital.
The FE Electrics will service Powerday’s customer base across London and the south east. The decision to add the vehicles to the fleet follows a successful trial, and they are expected to save the firm more than 30 tonnes in CO2 emissions each year.
Edward Crossan, CEO at Powerday, said: “In line with our net-zero roadmap, adopting these electric skiploaders into our fleet shows our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint and contributing to cleaner air and environment in London.
“By investing in electric skiploaders, we lead the charge towards cleaner,greener solutions.”
The EVs were supplied by Guili Chemello, transport solutions executive at Volvo Truck and Bus Centre South & East. Each is driven via a two-speed transmission, said to offer a smooth and comfortable driving experience; while power is handled by a traction control system that has been developed to master even slippery surfaces. Different drive modes are available to set desired performance, comfort, and energy usage levels.
Equipped with four batteries, each FE Electric offers a range of approximately 190km, says Volvo, and can recharge in 2.3 hours using a 150kW DC charger, which was installed at Powerday’s Willesden Junction site as part of the trial.
The trucks feature Hyva skiploader bodywork powered by an electric power take-off.
Built on a 4,100mm wheelbase and equipped with full air suspension, the FE Electrics’ day cabs also feature an additional lower passenger door window, to improve visibility while operating on busy streets around the capital. Further safety features are incorporated, such as Volvo’s Electronic Stability Control to reduce the risk of skidding and rollovers, Adaptive Cruise Control with automatic emergency braking, and Lane Keeping Support alerts.
The vehicles are backed by a Volvo Gold Contract which covers all repairs and maintenance, including proactive monitoring of batteries and related components.
