Crewe-based specialist manufacturer Whitby Morrison has unveiled a fully certified, purpose-built electric ice cream van.
The zero-emission vehicle, which has been engineered from the ground up on a factory-fresh Mercedes-Benz eSprinter chassis cab, has successfully cleared the UK’s Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) testing process.
Depending on battery and vehicle specification, the eSprinter chassis cab offers a combined WLTP driving range of up to 274 miles – enough to support a typical day’s trading for many operators.
It also supports rapid DC charging from 10% to 80% in 34 minutes under optimal conditions.
The van has been delivered to Hocking’s of North Devon, a family-run ice cream business with multi-generational ties to the Whitby family.
With a maximum authorised mass (MAM) of 4.25 tonnes, the vehicle also offers greater payload capacity than many conventional 3.5-tonne vehicles.
These vehicles can also be driven on a standard Category B licence in Britain, subject to the applicable conditions.
The van allows operators to trade in low-emission zones (LEZs), town centres, public parks, schools, and major sports stadiums where traditional diesel engines face bans or financial penalties.
Ed Whitby, operations director at Whitby Morrison, said, “The launch of our first fully certified electric ice cream van is something we are incredibly proud of.
“Our purpose-built electric ice cream van is developed to meet the needs of real operators while helping move the industry towards a cleaner and quieter future.
“We have always believed innovation should be practical. It should help our customers do what they do best. This vehicle does exactly that.”
