Cold storage provider Reed Boardall recently added two new Volvo FM Electric 4x2 tractor units to its all-Volvo fleet of 200 commercial vehicles. Reed Boardall is the UK’s largest single-site cold storage operation, which can hold over 168,000 pallets of frozen produce at once. The company’s FM Electrics will work in tandem to create a 24/7 zero-emission shuttle operation, bringing stock from customers to store at Reed Boardall’s Boroughbridge site.
“Sustainability is an issue close to our hearts, hence why we’ve been so proactive in welcoming non-fossil fuel Volvos onto the fleet already,” says Reed Boardall Managing Director Stevland Town. “And, with electric technology progressing so rapidly, we were eager to introduce an electric model into the business at the earliest opportunity.
“Electric trucks are not a one-size-fits-all solution in our industry, but there is potential to successfully deploy this technology within certain parameters. With Volvo’s help, we were able to quickly identify a suitable route, and the early results we’ve seen have far surpassed our expectations as it has proved possible to get an efficient number of trips out of the batteries.”
About The Volvo FM Electric
The FM Electric has three electrical motors that generate 666 horsepower (490 kilowatts) and 2,400 newton-metres (1,770 pounds-foot) of continuous torque. It also has Volvo’s standard I-Shift gearbox for smooth, quiet driving. An electromobility traction control system helps manage power output on slick surfaces, and various drive modes enable the driver to set performance, comfort, and energy usage levels.
Buyers can customise the FM Electric to accommodate various range and payload needs with configurations of two to six battery packs and two or three motors.
Reed Boardall has specified its FM Electrics with the Drive++ package, which includes full air suspension, dual armrests, leather upholstery, and fully electronic air conditioning with sun, mist, and air quality sensors and a carbon filter.
Converted Drivers
“When we first told the drivers that they were moving into an electric truck, there wasn’t an entirely positive response,” says Town. “However, even after just a couple of days, they had all been totally converted. The feedback we’ve had is that they are a total pleasure to drive, so much so that they say they would not want to go back to driving a diesel truck.”
Find Volvo Trucks For Sale
Explore TruckLocator.ie to find new and used Volvo trucks for sale, including Volvo FM tractor units and rigids in various configurations to meet any need.
Source: Volvo