Ryder Europe Signs First Electric Truck Leasing Customer

Ryder Europe Signs First Electric Truck Leasing Customer

By John O'Dell March 9, 2010

We've long maintained that electrifying intra-city delivery trucks makes tons of sense because range - a concern for long-distance trucking and for many consumers - shouldn't be much of a problem for battery-electric trucks that wend their way along city streets dropping goods off at convenience stores, restaurants and retail shops.

Now comes some proof.

Truck rental company Ryder Europe says tests of a 10-ton Smith Newton electric truck in central London showed that the delivery truck, used on a route serving the catering and hospitality trade, not only didn't deplete its batteries during the course of a day's work but, with an estimated range of just 80 miles, usually could go three days before needing an overnight recharge.

Based on that test, Ryder customer Bunzl - a distribution company - has become the first to lease a Smith Newton battery-electric truck from Ryder.

Aside from the freedom from range anxiety, the electric truck from Britain's Smith Electric Vehicles promises lower fuel and maintenance costs, relief from central London's daily congestion tariffs, and, for people who live and work along the delivery route it will serve, less noise and no diesel fumes.

A Bunzl spokesman said that if the truck is a reliable as expected, the company plans to add more electric delivery vehicles to its U.K. fleet in 2011 as part of its "sustainable distribution initiative.".

John O'Dell:  is an AutoObserver Senior Editor. Follow @AutoObserver on Twitter.