Sainsbury's positive about range and suitability of electric vehicles
Page 11
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
SAINSBURY'S REVEALS that the addition of 50 electric vans to its online home-delivery fleet has not forced the supermarket giant to change its operational patterns.
Given the range limitations of electric vans, operators usually have to evaluate their delivery cycles to ensure they can return to base. A spokesman for Sainshurâ– says: "Due to the varied nature of the size and density of catchment areas within the online estate, we have been able to locate a number of stores with suitable operations and delivery patterns for the vehicles.
As such, there have been no changes required to the way we operate."
He continues: "All the trials focused on the range of the vehicles, and they have been conducted in both summer and winter conditions, so the ranges we require of the vehicles is guaranteed to be suitable for our individual requirements."
Last summer, Sainsbury's ordered 50 Smith Edison vans for its home shopping operation in London. giving it the largest electrical van fleet in the UK of 68 vehicles.
The supermarket has been testing electrical vehicles from its Kensington depot since 2006.