Supplied by dealer Northside Truck & Van, the Grimsby-based operator’s 7.5-tonne Canter 7C15 Eco Hybrid is powered by a 150bhp diesel engine working in parallel with a 40 kW (54bhp) electric motor.
It features an insulated box body by The Cold Consortium, of York, and a GAH single-temperature refrigeration unit.
Evans’ fleet includes another 7.5-tonne truck by a rival manufacturer and, reports Evans, not only is the Canter better in terms of fuel efficiency, it is also beating the other vehicle on payload (almost 3.5 tonnes), despite the extra weight of its batteries and electric motor.
Company director Colin Evans says: “The two trucks are on very similar work and while the established vehicle returns an average of 14 mpg, the Canter Eco Hybrid is already hitting 17.5 mpg – a figure we expect will get even better. Clearly, an improvement of that magnitude represents a very significant saving.”
He adds: “We’ve never had a hybrid vehicle before but I see no reason to be afraid of the technology, while the benefits in cost savings and reduced emissions are clear.”
Evans European Transport’s new truck is the subject of an Agility funding agreement, from Mercedes-Benz Financial Services – a hire purchase arrangement, with a choice of options at the end of the term.
“The Agility package is excellent,” says Evans. “It allows us to put off deciding what to do at the end of the contract until much nearer the time, and the payments are highly competitive.”