National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED) has helped develop a new fully electric 4×4 utility vehicle in partnership with Skoda and vehicle conversion company Strongs.
The collaboration has resulted in Skoda’s road car, the Enyaq, being converted into a light commercial vehicle (LCV) with all-terrain capability.
High-strength, low-weight plastic materials have been used to ensure the vehicle combines rigorous safety with maximum driving range.
As well as a lightweight bulkhead, the Enyaq has been adapted to provide the stowage needed for specialist equipment used by the electricity distribution network operator’s engineers.
The Enyaq is an important step in addressing the challenge of having a clean fuel vehicle that can deliver the performance needed by engineering crews working in demanding conditions.
Each Enyaq will remove 241g/km of CO2e or 4,820t CO2e per year from NGED’s fleet, the equivalent of planting about 200 trees to offset the CO2 emitted.
NGED, which distributes electricity to eight million customers in the South West, South Wales and the Midlands, is initially taking delivery of 70 Enyaqs.
As part of its corporate commitment to reach net zero by 2050, the company is moving towards all its vehicles being run on cleaner fuel sources.
Currently, NGED operates more than 300 fully electric commercial vans and 600 electric company cars.
Chris Mayell, NGED Transport Manager, said, “We have one of the largest fleets in the UK and this vehicle represents an important milestone in its transformation, as well as our commitment to net zero.
“Working with Strongs, we identified the potential of the Enyaq and started thinking creatively about turning it into a fully electric vehicle that meets operational needs for certain job roles, while reducing emissions in the communities we serve.”
