Electric truck added to Savona fleet

Operations will soon be greener at Savona Foodservice after the wholesaler signed up to hire an electric truck.

The Country Range Group member has agreed to hire the 12-tonne eTruck for six months as part of a trial to demonstrate the environmental and financial benefits of the technology.

Savona intends to use the eTruck in a series of conditions to ensure it can stand up to the test of regular deliveries, with the intention to be to lease the vehicle on a more permanent agreement if the trial is successful.

The vehicle is a 3.9-metre wheelbase, 12t GVW truck with tail lift and a chiller body capable of operating at -20 degrees to enable the transportation of frozen foods from its depot in Kidlington to businesses in central London.

With Oxford – where one of Savona’s depots are based – among the first cities in the UK to implement a zero emissions zone (ZEZ), which will restrict access to all but electric vehicles, the business’s heartland operation would also be compromised without the use of an EREV.

“We’ve been on the search for a suitable delivery solution for some time but conversations with other companies stopped dead in their tracks as soon as we start discussing running refrigeration down to -20 degrees,” said Savona Foodservice Managing Director, Mike Morgan.

“We’re delighted to have found a partner whose approach is collaborative and forward-thinking, and who have a solution that works and is good for more than just the last mile. Just as important is their intelligent approach to energy management using their PREMS (predictive range extension management system) technology.

“We anticipate that this solution will prove to be at least as commercially viable as traditional, diesel-based options.”

Country Range Group delivery electric vehicle Savona Foodservice technology