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Van’s electrifying performance
Friday September 12th 2008. Posted: 09:40
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Stuart Gair, of Smith Electric Vehicles, with Simon Tory in the driving seat of one of the new electric vans
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Openreach’s electric van took to the road this summer as the company began acceptance trials in York.
The tests, which were supported by BT Fleet, aimed to iron out any teething problems before the vehicle is put through its paces in Central London this autumn. Senior fleet innovation and vehicle design manager Simon Tory, of the chief engineers unit, said: “Though we did have a few minor problems, the van actually performed better than expected and the manufacturer, Smith Electric Vehicles, was on hand to deal with any minor issues. “The new lithium-ion batteries performed well and the van’s performance is quite impressive, with user feedback positive.” York-based field operations coach Paul Middleton, who has been trialling the vehicle, said: “To start with the acceleration didn’t match that of a conventional van, but our comments were taken on board and it is now actually easier to drive than my normal van. “At first the van feels very different as it has no clutch pedal or gear changes, but I found that you get used to that within a few miles. The main difference though was the lack of noise and vibration.” The business is so pleased with the early performance of the van that it has entered it into a major environmental competition. The Capital Arrive ‘n’ Drive and Fuel Challenge aims to recognise innovations that reduce emissions and improve air quality in London and, according to Simon, its rigorous judging process will also provide even more independent data on the vehicle’s performance.
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Last updated:
16:58