DP World Embarks on Battery Electric Vehicle Journey
Forward-thinking DP World were keen to explore alternatives to their current diesel road fleet, including battery electric vehicles (BEVs).
The UK-based operations have recently taken on an electric Volvo 4×2 tractor unit on a four year contract from Dawsongroup.
Rebecca Fuller, our Contract Hire Manager for Swindon said: “The initial conversation about the BEV trial with the customer happened by accident. Dave Munday, UK Transport Operations Manager at DP World called in to see me at the Swindon depot to discuss some other business, and we started talking about alternative fuels. Dave mentioned that DP World had recently won a new contract in Oxford and we both thought it would be an ideal contract to trial the BEV. The rest, as they say, is history.”
Neil Herring, Operations Director at DP World said: “The ever-closer end of the diesel engine in transport, likely just a couple of fleet renewals away for many operators, means we need to be ready for the future. Already, our intensive operations at Oxford for a major automotive company mean we cannot sit back and wait for others to lead the way. Sustainability is of paramount importance to us, which encompasses important issues such as the environment, working conditions, economics, and the developing importance of global trade.”
Dave Munday welcomed the new arrival saying, “We are running our trials initially over shorter distances, but we plan to extend these as we ‘learn’ what is possible without risking on-time delivery schedules. One element that we know will now have a much-heightened level of importance is route planning. What is ideal for a diesel engined truck might be wrong for the electric vehicle, though it’s quite possible this sharpened focus will deliver improvements for both!”
Our Smarter Asset Strategy provides the ideal opportunity for operators to ‘try before you buy’. Operators of all sizes use this approach, most recently with the arrival of Euro-6 vehicles and then the introduction of gas-engined vehicles. The often unexpected aspect of such trials for operators is the beneficial economic impact of the rental, leasing or contract hire used on those early vehicles. In these challenging economic times, many operators move away from outright acquisition, saving on large capital outlays and the management of ‘second life’ deals, with one of these options, freeing up funds for investments in facilities and people.
Dave Munday was happy to report,“Driver feedback has been very positive. The most obvious, immediate difference is the noise reduction over diesel, without loss of performance. Drivers ‘get’ that electric power could be the way forward and are embracing the opportunity to gain experience. We were already dealing with Dawsongroup and had developed a good relationship. So, when we spoke to them about trialling an electric vehicle, we were pleased with the way they reacted to, and dealt with our requirements, leading to the timely delivery of this Volvo.”
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