Volta Trucks, the Scandinavian start up manufacturer of the first purpose-built full-electric large commercial vehicle, has confirmed that Lenham Storage has joined its Pioneer Programme and will test the new Volta Zero in H1-2021.
Lenham Storage are one of the UK’s leading grocery logistics providers. Founded in Maidstone, Kent in 1946, they provide BRC-accredited warehousing, co-packing and transport services to a range of household brands, and deliver nationwide to supermarket distribution centres. They also serve cash and carry outlets and food service providers, as well as the High Street, farm shops and garden centres. Lenham’s fleet of over 360 commercial vehicles and 650 employees together help to deliver more than 17,000 pallets of goods and produce each week. Like Volta Trucks, sustainability is of fundamental importance to Lenham, who first brought 7.5 and 15 tonne hybrid diesel vehicles onto their fleet in 2011, and biogas powered trucks in 2013. The Volta Zero will be the first full-electric truck within their operations.
Steve Emsley, Fleet Manager of Lenham Storage said;
“Lenham Storage have a wide variety of vehicle applications within our fleet, from 3.5t vans through to 44t 60 pallet articulated vehicles. As a forward-thinking company, we see the future as a mix of propulsion technologies matched to the duty requirements. We’ve always been very keen to embrace full electrification of part of our urban delivery fleet, but to date there’s not been a product or a team to support that transition. Until now. The Volta Zero is the perfect solution for our inner-city distribution requirements and we’re looking forward to understanding how a full electric vehicle can integrate into our wider operations.
Chief Executive Officer of Volta Trucks, Rob Fowler, continued;
“I’m delighted to welcome Lenham Storage to the Volta Trucks Pioneer Programme, and look forward to supporting their vehicle trial next year. As a customer-centric business, we will learn a huge amount from the trials that will help inform the development and final specification of the Volta Zero. Having a broad spectrum of operator input and feedback is therefore vital for us, and the diverse transport user-cases offered by Lenham Storage will really help accelerate that process for us.”
Ends.
Editor’s notes.
About the Volta Zero.
The Volta Zero is the world’s first purpose-built full-electric 16-tonne vehicle designed for inner-city freight deliveries, reducing the environmental impact of freight deliveries in city centres. Designed from the ground up with an operating pure-electric range of 150 – 200 kms (95 – 125 miles), the Volta Zero will eliminate an estimated 180,000 tonnes of CO 2 by 2025.
Safety is also at the heart of Volta Trucks, with its ambition of being the safest large commercial vehicle manufacturer. The Volta Zero was designed for electric from the outset, which facilitates a step-change in vehicle and pedestrian safety. Thanks to the removal of the internal combustion engine, the operator of a Volta Zero sits in a central driving position, with a much lower seat height than a conventional truck. This combination, plus a glass house-style cab design, gives the driver a wide 220-degrees of visibility, minimising dangerous blind spots.
The first prototype Volta Zero was launched in September 2020, with the first pilot test vehicles due to start evaluation with customers in Q3-2021.
About Volta Trucks.
Volta Trucks is a start-up full-electric goods vehicle manufacturer and services company. Volta Trucks has offices in the UK and Sweden and has partnered with a number of industry- leading design and engineering companies to develop the Zero, including Prodrive, Astheimer and Magtec.
For further information, please contact:
Duncan Forrester
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T: 00 44 7768 877877
Ade Thomas
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T: 00 44 7802 875710
E: press@voltatrucks.com