First Volvo FH Electric in East Anglia

Commercial Motor
February 8, 2024

Boortmalt has added a 44-tonne Volvo FH Electric 6x2 tractor unit to its fleet, supplied Volvo Truck and Bus Centre South & East. The malt firm, based in Bury St. Edmunds will use the vehicle via its logistics partner Bartrums. 

Tremayne Johnson, operations director at Bartrums, said: “The arrival of this fully electric Volvo FH is a significant milestone and is also one of the very first electric articulated bulk vehicles in the UK. This is a flagship project both for Bartrums and Boortmalt. The rig will be a spectacular and unmistakable sight on the roads and I’m in no doubt it will significantly raise the sustainability profile of Boortmalt in the UK.”

 

The vehicle replaces a diesel unit so it will immediately contribute to reducing Boortmalt’s carbon emissions. The FH Electric has six batteries to offer a range of around 200 miles. It can be recharged in around 2.5 hours with a 150kW DC charger which is powered by Boortmalt’s natural gas heat and power plant. 

 

Three electric motors give the vehicle 666hp and 2,400Nm of continuous torque. As seen on the diesel version of this truck, it’s fitted with an I-Shift gearbox. Unique to the electric variant, it has drive modes for performance, comfort and optimised energy usage as well as a traction control system to handle slippery surfaces. 

 

The driver benefits from air suspension and a Globetrotter cab fitted with the media pack and dual armrests. Safety features include electronic stability control, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, advanced emergency braking and lane departure warning.

 

Peter Nallen, Boortmalt’s managing director UK & Ireland, added: “We will continue to strive for lower carbon deliveries of barley and malt as well as ensuring we decarbonise all our malting plants in line with our ambitious sustainability commitments, including a 50 per cent reduction in our carbon footprint by 2030. We are also developing plans to be carbon neutral in the future.”

 

The truck is on a four-year Volvo Gold contract which includes proactive battery monitoring. Paired with a STAS tipping trailer, the FH Electric is expected to cover 80,000km annually. Bartrums and Boortmalt have worked together for more than 30 years so this new electric addition signifies the partnership’s forward-facing approach to its next generation operations. 

To explore a vast range of the latest vehicles, equipment and fleet services, make sure to come along to the Road Transport Expo this summer from 4-6 June at NAEC Stoneleigh. Book your free ticket today!

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