Volvo FE Electric hits the road in Hounslow

Commercial Motor
May 23, 2024

Ringway Hounslow Highways has replaced one of its diesel trucks with a new 26-tonne Volvo FE Electric 6x2 rigid with a Thompsons tipper grab body and low entry cab. Supplied by Ian Sharrock, key account manager at Volvo Truck and Bus Centre South & East, the vehicle will be used on highway and street service works around Hounslow. 

 

Mitesh Solanki, managing director at Ringway, said: “With sustainability becoming more and more important in our sector, we are eager to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles throughout our business. Having assessed the options on the market, we quickly concluded that a bespoke build would offer us the most flexibility. The Volvo FE Electric provided an ideal platform to create a first-of-its-kind vehicle in the UK and yet again lead the way to continue our transition from diesel fuel.

 

“Working within London’s Ultra-Low Emissions Zone, we’re fully confident the rigid will not just meet, but exceed Hounslow Highway’s expectations, delivering practical and environmentally conscious operational performance with absolutely zero tailpipe emissions. This forms part of Ringway’s commitment to support Hounslow Highways with its green agenda and aspirations to improve air quality, encourage biodiversity and green spaces, and apply innovations to reduce carbon impact.”

 

The truck is fitted with three batteries and is expected to work up to seven days a week, covering more than 30,000km annually. Working within DVS requirements, the low entry cab has bus-style doors and several cameras to support high levels of direct vision, all round visibility, and easy access. Ringway opted for a Volvo gold contract which covers repairs, maintenance and battery monitoring. 

 

Solanki said: “We’ve been deploying low entry cabs for several years now, and the safety and visibility benefits have been well received by our drivers. Though the incoming DVS scheme will allow three-star vehicles to operate in London for at least 10 years from October 2024, our view is that we will only spec five-star vehicles going forward.

 

“The Volvo team’s input has been invaluable in helping us to fully understand our electric vehicle power usage requirements and overall feasibility, allowing us to paint the full picture of how the new vehicle will operate in the real world.”

 

Ringway is also the first company in the UK to order a new FM low entry electric truck, which has a five star DVS rating. 

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