Double electric Kiwi delivery van
SEAFOOD SUPPLIER SANFORD IS PUTTING New Zealand’s first fully-electric chiller van on the road in Auckland.
The LDV EV80 van is unique, the 96-year-old company says, because not only is the van electric powered – so too is its chiller, thus making its daily deliveries completely emissions free.
Sanford expects the van to have a 150-kilometre operational range, while carrying up to 1000 kilograms of fresh seafood. Its lithium phosphate battery can be fully recharged in two hours – using a public charging station in the carpark at the Auckland Fish Market, where Sanford & Sons is a fishmonger. The station and the van have been built with the support of EECA’s Low Emission Contestable Fund.
The temperature in the van can be monitored remotely so that Sanford can be sure its seafood is always at its best.
Sanford CEO Volker Kuntzsch says “it’s always exciting to be on the cutting edge of sustainable technology.
“Being able to deliver fresh, chilled seafood daily to our customers is an absolute necessity and we’re delighted we’ve been able to find a solution which is zero emissions, which fits with our focus as a company taking a sustainable approach to everything we do.”
Sanford’s general manager of supply chain, Louise Wood, says “the EECA funding is great because it encourages innovation and investment to promote, enable and accelerate the uptake of electric vehicles.
“That’s made a big difference to us and has given us the encouragement to try something new.”
The company developed the electric/electric delivery van in league with LDV, refrigeration unit supplier PlugnChill and Auckland Auto Air, which customised the vehicle – fitting the refrigeration and insulation.
Its eutectic technology allows for cold plates in the van, filled with phase changing material (PCM), to be solidified and store thermal energy. This thermal energy will keep the temperature in the van between 0 and 4 degrees for the time the deliveries are being made.
Sanford has several fishing vessels landing fresh fish into Auckland most days and this product is quickly delivered to a variety of customers around the Auckland area by the van, which is branded with Sanford & Sons livery.
Sanford says the van has the battery capacity equivalent of around 10,000 iPhones.
T&D