Summer 2008

TNT looks like becoming the world's biggest user of all-electric high-performance delivery vehicles by next year. Following small-scale trials, it has now placed an order for 100 Newton 7.5-tonne electric delivery vans from Smith Electric Vehicles for delivery over the next 18 months. The value of the order is put at £7 million.

The Newton is based on chassis-cab components from Czech builder Avia, and looks and performs like a standard box van. However, it is a zero-emission vehicle, and TNT claims that the fleet will cut 1.3m kg of carbon dioxide a year from its carbon footprint.

The first tranche of 50 trucks will initially operate from TNT locations in London, Basildon, Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Durham, Edinburgh, Enfield, Glasgow, Leeds, Leicester, Luton, Northampton, Oxford, Paisley, Preston and Wolverhampton.

TNT is also trialling other Smith Electric battery-powered vans and trucks in the Netherlands, with a view to rolling them out across its wider European operations.

 

The Newton has a top speed of 50mph and a 70-mile range from one single battery charge. It is designed to replace diesel trucks that operate exclusively in urban areas, helping improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.