The vehicle, based on a Maxus Deliver 9 chassis cab, will join the 342-vehicle bio-gas heavy goods vehicles fleet and thousands of Paneltex-built vans that are part of Asda’s fleet.
In addition to its fully electric operation and Gah refrigeration system, the van has a 111-tote capacity across ambient, refrigerated, and frozen zones, a central locking system, and both front and rear parking sensor/reverse aid systems. Five more Maxus vans and a Ford eTransit will also go into service shortly.
Sean Clifton, senior manager national fleets at Asda, said: “These Maxus and Ford vehicles are fully electric, producing zero emissions – great for inner-city urban deliveries. Electric vans need more efficient insulation and door systems, as well as a very robust fridge system. It takes lots of innovation and joined up thinking to integrate a body system onto two different electric chassis cabs in a way that incorporates powering all the required electrics and the fridge without interfering with the Ford and Maxus electrical systems.”
