The E-QCB (Electric Quick Change Body) was purchased at the start of this year following a successful trial and evaluation period, and has been put to work across the different districts in Hertfordshire.
Mitesh Solanki, managing director at Ringway, said: “Given the growing importance of the environment in our sector, we are keen to promote the adoption of electric vehicles within our business where we can. After evaluating available options, we determined that the E-QCB solution on a Volvo 19.0t chassis, would provide the greatest flexibility and emerged as an ideal platform, allowing us to pioneer a unique vehicle in the UK, further advance our learning in zero tail pipe emission commercial vehicles and transition away from diesel fuel.”
The E-QCB utilises the latest in sustainable technology without diminishing performance, and with no exhaust gases produced, can be utilised in zero emission zones and where there is appropriate depot heavy goods vehicle (HGV) electric charging.
Its QCB technology is said to enable the bodywork to be switched between gritter, tipper or caged body modes, with transformation taking no longer than 15 minutes by a single operative.
The vehicle comes with alternative battery configurations to allow optimisation of range and payload. It can be fully charged in less than two hours, subject to infrastructure, and is said to run near silent with a range of up to 170 miles depending on load and road conditions.
Elsewhere in the businesses, Ringway has taken the delivery of a 26-tonne Volvo FE Electric 6x2 rigid, featuring a tipper grab body and low entry cab developed by The Thompsons Group.
The Ringway Volvo FE Electric replaces a similarly sized diesel vehicle in the Hounslow fleet and will be deployed on various highway and street service works across the urban London Borough.
