Electra unveils eCargo waste fleet platform
Lancashire manufacturer Electra Commercial Vehicles has announced the launch of a new 12.5-tonne electric waste platform, the eCargo. Founded in 2017, Electra builds fully electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles on multiple chassis platforms.
Said to be a first in their weight class in the UK, the eCargo vehicles have been designed with a short 3,330mm wheelbase, and are said to be particularly suited for food waste collections.
Electra says the layout and configuration have been designed to reduce downtime and maintenance requirements for operators.
“Electra’s vehicles already have a reduced maintenance requirement, combined with a system that enables significant parts to be repaired or replaced in under 15 minutes,” said the company.
The scalable modular configuration means Electra can build a platform suited to any operation and application, the firm says; and since it is not tied to just one chassis or body manufacturer, the customer can create a truck to bespoke requirements.
It cites the eCargo’s “class-leading payload” with a body and allowance of 7,900 kg.
“With 140 kWh of battery capacity and thermally managed batteries, this truck can operate in -30- and +50–degree climates and has a range of up to 250 km,” said Electra.
“It also has a 150 KW DC fast charge capability, meaning this eHGV can be double-shifted or exceed its range by over 100 miles in under an hour.”
The company’s vehicles are equipped with an eight-year battery warranty, and feature V2L capability which enables them to charge other vehicles or supply three-phase power for events.
It reports that a trial 12.5-tonne eCargo with a kerbside recycling body fitted, which has been on demonstration for more than a year around the country, has proved a success with operators due to the platform’s capabilities and driveability.
The Electra eCargo is being offered to the UK through an exclusive agreement with Guest Motors Limited, which offers the full range of Electra commercial EVs through its network of Guest Truck & Van and Sherwood Truck & Van dealerships and service centres.
The first fleet of seven 12.5-tonne Electra eCargo food waste vehicles was recently acquired by Basildon Council. Fitted with Hillend Engineering Micro XHD bodies, they went into service in April 2023. The fleet is on a contract hire agreement with full service and maintenance from NRG Riverside.
Ben Smith, managing director of Electra Commercial Vehicles, said: “The eCargo is the perfect solution to meet the requirements of the government’s new food waste collections regulations nationwide, producing zero-emissions and with a lead-time of under a year…
“We recognised that the configuration of different body types significantly impacts the truck’s size, design, and battery size and layout while also requiring an EPTO – all packed into a very short wheelbase.
“We are delighted that we can now offer our clients zero-emission trucks suited to small and busy roads in city centres and narrow precincts, ideally suited for the stringent demands of operations in ultra-low-emissions zones.”
