Buckleigh Laundry, England’s oldest family laundry business, has taken delivery of a new Volvo FM Electric – its first battery-powered truck.
Supplied by Stuarts Truck and Bus, the 4×2 rigid will be used for delivery and collection of the North Devon-based firm’s linen products to customer sites across the West Country.
Buckleigh Laundry has replaced an older diesel truck with the zero-tailpipe emission vehicle – a move that will see it cut 32 tonnes of carbon emissions from its transport fleet each year.
Built on a 6,300 mm wheelbase, the 20-tonne FM Electric – which comes equipped with a box body and tail lift – is equipped with six batteries offering a maximum range of 300 km.
Power is delivered by two electrical motors which generate 450hp and 2,400Nm of continuous torque.
The FM Electric will recharge at the firm’s depot overnight and be ready for use the following morning.
Backed by a Volvo Gold Contract, which includes preventative maintenance, repairs, and continuous monitoring of key systems including batteries and other critical components, the FM Electric is expected to cover about 50,000 km per year.
Henry Boyle, Managing Director, Buckleigh Laundry, said, “This one vehicle will save 32 tonnes of carbon from our commercial vehicle fleet being emitted into the environment every year it’s in operation.
“This is a proof-of-concept project; if this first electric truck can perform strongly then the plan would be to transition our entire HGV fleet over time to electric.
“Some of the terrain we operate on in Cornwall and Devon is quite hilly and remote. It’s a challenging environment for it to prove itself but the early signs are hugely positive.”
