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PaperCo takes delivery of its first electric truck

Customer response to PaperCo’s first new electric truck has been positive. “They are delighted that we are in the forefront of new technology to reduce our CO² emissions, says John Quirk, development director of DeliveryCo.

Monday 14. July 2008 - Customer response to PaperCo’s first new electric truck has been positive. "They are delighted that we are in the forefront of new technology to reduce our CO² emissions, says John Quirk, development director of DeliveryCo.

The new truck, a 7.5 tonne Smith Electric Truck, which is the first and only curtain sided electrical vehicle in the country, was delivered to PaperCo’s Dixon & Roe operating site in London last month. It has been bought with the environment in mind, fitting with PaperCo’s Corporate Responsibility strategy.

According to Smith Electric there are zero emissions, zero tailpipe pollution – no PM10s, nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide and CO².

Electric vehicles are much more expensive than their diesel counterparts but there are benefits in that road tax is free, the vehicles are not subject to the congestion charge and the fuel costs are put at 7% less than the cost of diesel.

“At present we would not be able to convert our entire fleet because the battery technology is not yet that advanced,” says Mr Quirk.

Veronica Heaven, corporate responsibility director, says: “The arrival of the first electric truck continues our quest to measure and minimise our carbon emissions and underline our green credentials. One of our drivers reports that the London public is responding well to the vehicle with people approaching the driver to find out more. The new vehicle is able to travel 80 miles on a full charge enabling us to comfortably service some of our London customers on a twice daily basis.

“Already we have switched all our operations to 100% renewable energy sources through a provider which uses only green energy from wind power, biomass, municipal incinerated waste, hydro electric power and landfill mass. PaperCo is at the forefront of the environmental crusade, working as a business to operate to the highest standards as well as offering our customers best advice and the greatest range of Chain of Custody paper stock choices.”