Menzies embarks on trial of unique electric van

Menzies Distribution is acceleratingitselectricvehicleswitchoverafterembarking on a year-long trial of a pre-production green van.

Theedinburgh-headquarteredgroupsaidtheall-electricfordtransitwasoneofa verysmallnumberintheuk at present. The van is said to offer a load area that mirrors its diesel counterpart and has been identified by the company as suitable for newstrade,expressandparcel operations.

The firm will test the E-transit and its existing charging infrastructure. It will engage both the Menzies Newstrade and Express operations,providingvaried routes, mixed terrain, different speeds and, at times, “vast” mileage ranges, all of which have a bearing on battery life. Data obtained from the test will inform blueprints for all Menzies sites and their electric vehicle (EV) resources.

Menzies Distribution operates from more than 100 sites across the UK and Ireland, distributing to some 30,000 locations each day, including newspapers and magazines, retail stock, healthcare consumables andparceldeliveryservices.