Electricity NW reports success with its three Isuzu Truck N75.190 Forward 7.5t chassis cabs, which are delivering emergency power services in the North Lakes and Cumbria.
Graham Davies, from the North West electricity distribution firm, says that his organisation assessed all 7.5t trucks currently available, before acquiring the N75 rigids.
He explains that each of the Isuzu trucks is capable of carrying the two 200kVA Atlas Copco mobile generators and associated fuel tanks needed to provide for its requirement of in excess of 20 hours' emergency power.
"In every other case, the gvw of the chassis meant that we would need a 12-tonne truck to handle these emergency situations," states Davies.
"This was not the case with Isuzu. The unladen weight of the 7.5 tonne chassis cab gives us the required payload to accommodate both the equipment and the fuel needed for us to provide up to 22.5hours of continuous power," he says.
"Also, the compact footprint of the vehicle is ideal for reaching remote locations, small access roads and navigating tight country lanes where they will inevitably be expected to go," he adds.
All three vehicles were supplied to Electricity NW by Isuzu dealer Warrington Vehicle Centre and are expected to deliver a working life of at least seven years, based out of depots in Kendal, Carlisle and Workington.
These are not the first Isuzu trucks at Electricity NW. Last year, three new Isuzu N62.150 Forward 6.2 tonne rigids were acquired – each being fitted with a bespoke body, including a gang van with on-board compressed air supply, a tipper body, and a gas cylinder carrier with tail lift.