John Lewis Partnership has unveiled a project to develop a range of environmentally friendly prototype trucks and vans. The firm has issued invitations to manufacturers and technology companies to help it create low-CO2 emission urban vans, rural vans, multi-use trucks, including trailers, and on-board refrigeration systems. John Lewis says it will provide technical and operational support for the design and development stages, and evaluate designs from mid-2008 to late 2009, or early 2010.
Cenex - a low carbon and fuel cell consultancy - will oversee the independent testing for the vehicles and technologies selected. Testing organisations MIRA and Millbrook are also expected to be involved. The firm wants to trial the full range of available low-carbon technologies, from electric and hybrid-electric vehicles to hydrogen and fuel cells. It also aims to trial high bio-content fuels from renewable sources, such as bio-methane from waste.
Charlie Mayfield, chairman of the John Lewis Partnership, which includes supermarket Waitrose, says: "Our business is all about sustainability and we are determined to play our part in tackling climate change. I am delighted to announce this programme and am convinced that together we can make enormous progress." The company says all prototypes should target a 30% reduction in CO2 emissions, while maintaining or reducing other emissions.
Representatives from Kuehne + Nagel, Daf, MAN, Mercedes-Benz and Modec, among others, attended a John Lewis conference to unveil the project - which the firm has dubbed the Eco Van and Eco Lorry Challenge. It mirrors a similar concept run by FedEx in the USA. For more details email David Sheppard of Waitrose, or Lynda Grice of Cenex.
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