James Hall & Co’s transport and Logistics department has taken delivery of its first fully electric refrigerated trailer from trailer builder Gray & Adams.
It is the first vehicle in the company’s fleet to use an electric refrigerated unit from Carrier rather an a diesel one, which removes both diesel expenses and CO2 emissions from the trailer refrigeration unit. The new Gray & Adams trailer, which will deliver items to SPAR outlets across the North of England, has been given a unique green colour to distinguish it from the rest of the fleet.
There is a facility on site at the company’s SPAR Distribution Centre in Preston to charge the battery and pre-chill the load area. When not in use, the battery pack provides a five-hour backup run time to sustain the trailer’s fridge when it is stationary and without power.
“We are very pleased to take delivery of the new trailer and it looks fantastic in its special livery.” said Ian Farnworth, Fleet Engineering Manager at James Hall. “It is a first for us as a business and the trailer is already delivering savings when out on the road. We will be monitoring its performance with interest over the coming weeks and months.
“While it is supporting a reduction of costs on diesel as an associated benefit, at the forefront of the decision to invest in the trailer is the benefits it brings to the environment. We are also aware of an increasing number of cities and metropolitan areas within our patch that are implementing clean air zones and we are conscious of these factors when making investment decisions.”
