London Goes Electric

26/03/2010

Central London is set to witness the first of a new generation of all-electric vans. 

The project is one of the first to go ahead as part of the £20 million Low Carbon Procurement Programme, funded by the Department for Transport (DfT) in partnership with Cenex, local authorities and other selected public sector fleet operators. 

Fittingly the City of London Corporation - the local authority responsible for managing the high-profile heart of our capital city - is the first organisation off the blocks in confirming an order for a eBoxer all-electric van under the DfT programme.

Manufactured by Allied Electric in conjunction with Peugeot, the eBoxer van will join the City's library fleet this spring.  Powered entirely by battery the eBoxer, which has a range of 100 miles between charges, produces zero-emissions in operation - a major attraction for authorities seeking to tackle harmful city centre transport emissions.

Funding

All-electric vehicles, like the eBoxer, are more expensive to buy than conventional vans but substantially cheaper to operate.  The DfT's Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement Programme is designed to stimulate uptake of all-electric and hybrid vehicles by helping public sector fleet operators meet the capital cost of purchasing the vehicles. 

Allied Electric was successful in bidding to supply all-electric vehicles through the programme, which is being managed by Cenex, the centre of excellence for low carbon fuel technologies. 

The City of London's first all-electric vehicle will operate from the library at the Barbican Centre.  From here it will deliver to other city libraries and provide home-deliveries to people who can't get out to a library.

The working centre of London's world-famous financial district, the 'City' or 'Square Mile' is a high-density business and commercial zone.  The resident population overnight is just under 10,000 people but the area welcomes an influx of 310,000 workers on a daily basis - setting transport efficiency at a premium.

Example

The initiative in the City has been welcomed by Transport Secretary, Andrew Adonis.  He enthused: "This project is an excellent example of the way that the UK is playing a leading role in developing and demonstrating low carbon vehicle technology.  It's good news that the eBoxer will be on the road soon."

John Lake, Head Librarian at Barbican Library, commented: “The home delivery service is a regular delivery to local residents who are unable to visit the library through disability, old age or ill health.  It’s a highly valued and very personal service which also provides a much needed social contact for the individuals concerned.”

John continued: “The purchase of an all-electric vehicle is an important step in providing environmentally friendly services within the city and has been carefully considered as part of the City of London's Transport Coordination Group's planning process.”

Green Future

Allied Electric - part of the innovative Allied Vehicles Group - was delighted to be selected to supply its eBoxer vans through the Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement Programme.

Managing director Paul Nelson said: "All-electric automotive technology has advanced hugely in the past few years and now offers a real, practical alternative, especially for congested city centre applications.

"The Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement Programme and the initiative shown by organisations like the City of London Corporation provide important leadership and impetus along the road to a lower-carbon future for transport operators. 

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