The addition of these seven new full-electric vans comes as the council looks to build an electric vehicle fleet and to operate more sustainably.
Falkirk Council placed orders for Citroën ë-Dispatch Enterprise vans with XS body length and a 50kWh battery. The vehicles have since been deployed to support essential building maintenance work throughout the council region, helping to improve and further develop facilities for its residents.
Acquired though Arnold Cark in Armadale, Falkirk Council was able to fund the purchase of its new fleet with the help of Transport Scotland’s ‘Switched On Towns and Cities Challenge Fund’ and ‘Switched on Fleet Fund’ schemes, which encourage key environmental changes such as vehicle electrification.
Falkirk Council was attracted to the ë-Dispatch thanks to its practical range and sizeable load capacity, while additions such as a pipe carrier roof rack and plywood lining allow further functionality for everyday use.
Available with a choice of two battery sizes, ë-Dispatch is capable of up to 143 miles (WLTP) with the 50kWh battery option, or up to 205 miles (WLTP) with the larger 75kWh battery pack. New ë-Dispatch can be charged at home or on site through a 7kW wallbox.
New Citroën ë-Dispatch also provides significant financial benefits to local authorities and businesses when driven in and around cities with Ultra Low Emissions Zones (ULEZ), such as London. The vehicles' zero emissions make them exempt from Congestion and ULEZ charges. In addition, analysis conducted by Citroën UK found that the total cost of ownership for a new ë -Dispatch van could be less than 50% that for an equivalent diesel van (a Dispatch M 1.5 BlueHDi 100 Enterprise van, compared to a new ë-Dispatch M 50kWh Enterprise van).
Laura Campbell, fleet coordinator for Falkirk Council, commented: “The introduction of new Citroën ë-Dispatch to our fleet will give us the confidence that we can undertake our services in an environmental and cost-effective way, without any compromise to practical necessities like load space and vehicle range.”
The battery has been positioned under the floor of the vehicle to maximise load space, providing up to 6.6m3 of load volume and a payload of up to 1,002kg. They are available in a choice of three trim levels (‘X’, ‘Enterprise’ and ‘Driver’), three lengths (‘XS’, ‘M’ and ‘XL’), and two battery sizes (50kWh and 75kWh).