Mitie Landscapes launches UK’s first zero emission gritting service

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Mitie has launched the UK’s first fully electric gritting service, using a trial route in Nottingham, designed to maximise the number of sites it can de-ice on one charge.

Both the Maxus EV80 dropside van and attached battery-powered gritter will be charged each day at the Mitie Landscapes office in Nottingham, which is powered by Rego-backed renewable energy.

The EV80, which is the first zero emission gritter of its kind, features a 56kWh battery and takes 1.5 hours to charge on a 30kW DC rapid charging point.

Although its real-world range is 100 miles, the gritter currently runs about five to six hours between charging because it transports a heavy load of sustainable white marine salt in cold conditions.

As the trial continues Mitie will review how and where the vehicle is used to make the process more efficient, before rolling it out to more cities ahead of winter 2021.

Mitie Landscapes has designed its zero emission electric gritting service to support customers looking to reduce their environmental impact, particularly those in high-pollution areas like cities.

It also builds on Mitie’s own Plan Zero commitment to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2025, while also supporting its customers in reaching their own sustainability targets.

Mitie has more than 900 pure EVs already in its fleet, with another 25 being delivered each week, depending on lockdown restrictions.

Tim Howell, managing director, Landscapes, Mitie, said, “When people think about cutting carbon emissions, gritting may not seem an obvious place to start.

“However, to be truly sustainable, businesses need to consider every aspect of their operations.

“We’re proud to be launching the UK’s first zero emission gritting service to help our customers keep their sites safe, while minimising their impact on the planet.”

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