Riverside Truck Rental, the commercial vehicle solutions provider, and Electra Commercial Vehicles, the electric HGV manufacturer, have announced that the UK’s first fully electric temperature-controlled truck is to set off on tour around the UK to demonstrate to major cold and hot chain players in the industry how electric power is the future for temperature-controlled transport.
Last year in December, the Electra truck was trialled by Gregory’s Distribution for its Brew Dog Contract. Now the Electra e-Cargo SEIV 19 – 350, will be on its way to demonstrate that you can keep goods at the correct temperature without compromising the environment.
Benefits of glider chassis
The Electra e-Cargo SEIV 19 – Urban Refrigeration Vehicle is based on a 19-tonne Iveco Euro Cargo 4×2 glider chassis. Iveco builds the chassis to Electra’s glider specification in its factory in Brescia, Italy with space predesigned for the electric motor, batteries and electric PTO. This system ensures that the manufacturer approves the framework in advance. Simultaneously, the electrification process does not compromise the chassis’ essential qualities such as automatic braking and lane-assist functionalities.
Riverside Truck Rental supports Electra with its national service network backed up with both three-year OEM warranty for the chassis and Electra warranty for the drive system.
Sid Sadique, Chairman of Electra Commercial Vehicles, comments:
‘This arrangement is perfect for electrification and offers us maximum bodybuilding flexibility, which results in the most optimum configuration for the customer’s requirements.’
Contract hire for optimal support and cost savings
Riverside Truck Rental is the only hire company in the country that can deliver this truck on a beneficial and tailored contract hire agreement supported by an extensive maintenance and repair package.
Sales and Marketing Director for Riverside Truck Rental, Leigh Goodland, explains:
‘Our bespoke contract hire packages enable our client’s flexibility with their future procurement options. Our exclusive provision of fully electric HGVs with our partner, Electra Commercial Vehicles, makes us the obvious choice for the transport and cold-chain industry to create zero emissions in a risk-free and cost-effective way without compromising on the performance of diesel equivalents’
The benefits are clear. The Electra is plated at 19-tonne so there no payload loss, while the silent operation increases delivery opportunities and driver wellbeing. The ePTO system makes the Electra 100% Electric. Contract hire comes with tailored and fully inclusive maintenance, compliance and vehicle support for electric trucks and the operation.
Contract hire comes with one fixed monthly cost. This arrangement dramatically eases cash flow management for businesses, and there is no residual value risk at the end of the term.
Leigh continues:
‘Our nationwide service network offers 24/7 vehicle and customer support and coupled with our commitment to outstanding service levels, it makes the choice to acquire this zero-emissions truck on contract hire very naturally.’
The power of electric temperature-controlled transport
Power is provided by an electric traction motor that delivers up to 350kW of peak power, 3,400Nm of peak torque, or continuous energy of 260kW and 2,060Nm of torque. Electra offers customers a choice of mission-specific lithium iron phosphate batteries, with options including 160kWh, 225kWh and 287kWh – giving vehicles an extended working range suitable for most urban applications. The demo truck has been equipped with 225kWh batteries. The recharging time for the 225kWh demonstrator is approximately five hours at 40kW with a 63amp plug, enabling operators to recharge the HGV conveniently in between shifts.
No compromising on diesel performance – silent operation
The body consists of an insulated dual-zone body with a twin system refrigeration unit. It features chill and freeze flexi compartments with an air curtain over the rear-door and LED lighting.
The Electra system and batteries also provide continuous power to the onboard Frigoblock fridge system. This fridge system is fully integrated, enabling zero-emission operation even whilst the vehicle is stationary. This technology reduces noise typically associated with loading and unloading, allowing the operator to work silently whilst in environments where noise and exhaust pipe emissions lead to complaints.
Sid Sadique commented:
‘The new truck presents enormous environmental and noise savings and carbon footprint reductions. It is just another example of how our innovation lends itself to electrification perfectly.’
