The newest member of the Arena family
We got this fine specimen in from Hiremech today, to begin a week’s trial - it’s an electric van. If it does the trick, we’ll get fully Arena-branded ones for all our central London deliveries.
Here’s Mariusz, Arena’s Head of Distribution, plugging her in for the first time.
And this is Tom (on the right) and me in our new electric runabout. Tom is a salesman for Hiremech…so no wonder he’s smiling!
Vital statistics:
- Top speed: 30 mph (though can go quicker apparently - Ronald managed to get it up to 50mph, much to the surprise of Tom).
- Max mileage: 60 miles per charge (less when “it’s cold”). So that’s basically one trip from Arena HQ into central London and back, plus some change.
- Charging time: 6 hours (ie 10 mins / mile).
- Capacity: 20 bouquets.
Pros:
- No emissions and green as you like. Couldn’t get a more environmentally friendly way to deliver our flowers unless we walked them across London ourselves.
- No congestion charge, free parking in many London boroughs, very cheap to run, so a lot better economically, as well as environmentally, for the business.
- Charge through a normal plug and what appears to be a kettle lead, plus would look great next to the toaster.
Cons:
- Taking your life into your hands and pulling on to the A40 at 30mph to brave the herd of juggernauts thundering up the road behind you.
- No spare battery. Could be an issue if we run out of juice. Not sure customers will appreciate it if we ask if we can “plug in for 6 hours”. Don’t imagine the AA man is going to know what to do if it breaks down either.
- Every driver that drives past you hooting their horn and laughing their head off. All good natured stuff though and at least customers will hear their flowers coming thanks to our van’s accompanying horn chorus.
Let’s see how it goes. We really hope it works, as we really want to green up our fleet.
Filed under: Distribution, Ethics & Environment on May 25th, 2007
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Can’t we just send the drivers off with a packet of AA batteries…..did you see what I did there; AA batteries… :)
Nice one. I’ll for greener distribution vehicles. Can you pop wheelies in it?
Right. I’ve now driven it. I think Ronald was confusing KPH with MPH! He is continental though, so we can forgive him. 35mph was my absolute top. Good acceleration from a standing start though. No wheelies, sadly.