The Master Z.E. L2H2 vehicle was supplied to VMS Fleet Management by Renault Trucks UK before going to Clarks Vehicle Conversions.
VMS commissioned Clarks Conversions to build a prototype for its rental fleet. Having seen the vehicle in the design stage, Kier Group approached VMS late in 2019, and have since partnered on the vehicle.
Features include:
- Standard welfare features, including a microwave, water boiler, dining table/desk, interior lighting and bathroom
- Accommodates up to six 85kg people at one time, plus additional 225kg of weight
- Clever access points to vehicle and power elements
- Newly-developed Clarks Cab Shield to assist in social distancing.
The vehicle on test has a range of up to 120 miles on a single charge, depending on route topography, load and driving style. The welfare conversion has the added feature of being powered by solar panels on the roof of the vehicle, which charge a lithium battery pack. This pack can be removed to charge and/or replaced with charged batteries ready to use for the next working day.
The van includes Geotab telematics that also offers fault reporting, EV system monitoring including state of charge and charging costs, and the system is able to evaluate whole life cost as well as provide a comparison against a diesel or other fuel equivalent.
The vehicle is currently with Kier Group on long-term rental. It will first be joining the Kier Group’s M6 smart motorway project (junctions 13-15), where it will be evaluated before moving to undertake broader tests across urban and rural contracts.
Grahame Neagus, head of LCV at Renault Trucks UK, said: “Renault Trucks UK and our dealer, Renault Trucks Chiltern, are delighted work with VMS and Clarks Vehicle Conversions to put this unique electric vehicle into service with Kier Group, operating in an industry sector that is not normally associated with electromobility.”