Braehead Shopping Centre goes green with electric trucks20 April 2012

One of Scotland's most famous shopping centres is lowering its carbon footprint by purchasing all-electric trucks.

Braehead Shopping Centre, near Glasgow, has taken delivery of two heavy-duty, battery-powered utility trucks to replace a diesel-powered tractor and trailer.

Braehead's general manager Peter Beagley says the new trucks will be used by maintenance and cleaning staff, and one of the electric vehicles will be fitted with a custom-built trailer for transporting giant 1,100 litre bins around the shopping centre.

They will also be used at Braehead Arena for transporting equipment used in events, such as ice hockey matches, WWE wrestling shows, Davis Cup tennis tournaments and pop concerts, he says.

"The move to all-electric trucks, instead of a diesel tractor, which will reduce our CO2 emissions, is part of our commitment to operating a greener and more sustainable business," comments Beagley.

Supplied by electric vehicles specialist ePower Trucks, both vehicles come with full winter maintenance packs, which include rear-mounted, electrically-powered gritters and hydraulically-powered snow ploughs fitted to the front.

"The electric trucks will also provide Braehead with our own snow ploughs and gritters to help us keep the car parks and roads around the centre and retail park clear of ice and snow during winter," explains Beagley.

"So not only is the environment benefiting from Braehead investing in these electric trucks, but visitors to Braehead will also benefit with clearer paths, roadways and car parks during winter."

The Alke utility vehicle is believed to be the first all-electric snow plough/gritter in the UK. The two-seater vehicles for Braehead have a range of up to 40 miles on a single charge and are fully road legal. The truck can tow up to 2,000kg and carry payloads up to 600kg. The batteries can be fully recharged in eight hours and running costs are claimed to be less than 5p per mile.

Author
Brian Tinham

Related Companies
ePowerTrucks ( A divison of Lift Safe Ltd)

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