London-based Gnewt Cargo has ordered three more all-electric Mercedes Vito E-CELL vans, after finding its first vehicle delivered outstanding load volume and payload.
Supplied by dealer S&B Commercials, the vehicles were acquired on CharterWay contract hire from Mercedes-Benz Financial Services, and with funding from the government's Plug-in Van Grant.
The zero-emission vehicles are being used on Gnewt's contract with TNT Express and are operating within London's congestion zone.
Gnewt (the name is derived from Green New Transport) operates a fleet of electric cargocycles and minivans to provide deliveries and collections around Central London.
"We have a lot of electric vans by other manufacturers, but they are much smaller and can't match the Vito E-CELL in terms of load volume and payload potential," says co-founder Sam Clarke.
"The Mercedes is a genuinely practical proposition with a very respectable range," he adds.
The Vito E-CELL has an 82bhp (60 kW) electric motor driving the front wheels, with lithium-ion batteries stored beneath the load floor so that passenger and cargo space is not reduced.
It has a range of 80 miles and a full recharge takes six hours.
Two charging points, by Charging Solutions, have been installed at the operator's base in the City.
