Halfords first with next-generation Bevan21 box body on Mercedes 08 October 2010

Halfords has become the first on the road with Bevan's newly adapted truck body design that the firm says sets new standards for aerodynamic efficiency.

The box body vehicle combines the curved roof profile, specially moulded air deflector and cab collar of its established streamlined Bevan21 design, but with additional new features to the rear quarter.

Halfords logistics controller Mark Shirley explains that these include tapered body sides and a rear air diffuser, said to smooth airflow over and around the back of the truck, so reducing drag.

He says capacity to carry cages is unimpaired and expects to achieve "valuable fuel cost savings and a reduction in carbon emissions" from the truck, which is making multi-drop deliveries to Halfords' stores with access too restricted to accommodate its larger vehicles.

This first, next-generation Bevan21 body has been mounted on an 18-tonne Mercedes-Benz Axor 1824 chassis with day cab. Halfords has also taken two more 18-tonne Axors from dealer Gerard Mann Commercials, one of which has a sleeper cab.
Both of these vehicles are fitted with Bevan's earlier design of Bevan21 bodies, fitted only with curved roof profiles and cab fairings, and Halfords and distribution partner DHL say they will compare the two designs in operation to assess the value of the extra features.

As for the rest of the trucks' equipment, they include the range of Axor safety features, including handbrake-off alarms and sensors for safe manoeuvring. They also have 1.5-tonne Dhollandia column tail-lifts fitted with side ramps and safety gates, while the undersides of Bevan's rear headers and load compartments incorporate recessed LED lights to aid working in dark areas.

"Cutting fuel consumption is another way in which we can make savings to pass onto our customers," comments Shirley. "The vehicles promise fuel cost savings of around five per cent, so we will be monitoring the performance of these trucks closely over the next three months… The results of this exercise will determine our vehicle commissioning decisions."

The three Axors were bought on a five-year contract hire deal with Mercedes-Benz CharterWay, configured for 125,0000km each per year. They will be maintained in Gerard Mann's Coventry workshops.

Shirley again: "We worked closely with DHL's engineering and operational teams in developing the specification for the new truck body, and we have all been impressed by the enthusiasm and professionalism that Bevan's business development manager Simon Lake and his colleagues have demonstrated throughout this project.

"As for the chassis, we undertook a considerable amount of research that focused on reliability and whole-life costs, and this indicated that the Axor represented the best option. So we've decided to give Mercedes-Benz an opportunity to show what they can do."

Author
Brian Tinham

Related Downloads
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Related Companies
Bevan Group Bodies Ltd
Mercedes-Benz UK Ltd

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