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AN ALTERNATIVE APPROACH When it comes to vehicle technology, Abel & Cole has previously dabbled with biofuels, working with Regenatec.
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It operated a converted lveco Daily that ran on pure plant oil, with a view to using pure waste oil. However, during the two-year trial period, problems were encountered, including two blown engines, which was put down to a residue left on the injector tips over a sustained period.
Nick Cannel!, Abel & Cole transport manager, says: It took us a long time to find this out, we had to get an injector out and cut it in half to get to the bottom of the problem. Although the company offered plenty of support, we felt that in the end we should look elsewhere for alternative fuels."
As a consequence, Abel & Cole has also looked into an electric diesel hybrid Iveco Daily, and has offered itself up for a test, but the company is concerned about the
reduced payload that comes with the extra battery weight.
"Hybrid vehicles have a payload issue due to the extra weight of the battery; the pay-off is that you don't save much when you factor in the reduced payload. It's felt that hybrid technology is not the way ahead on LCVs." Gas-powered vehicles have also been looked at, with fuel derived from landfill.
"Gas is the most practical and something we are looking at. We'd have a refuelling station here, however, there's not a network out there to offer back-up at the moment."
Full electric doesn't suit, again because of the payload issue, "It would only ever be suitable in London. Also, another difficulty is when running refrigerated vehicles, you have to run 4.5 to 5 tonnes," says Cannell.
Although sales have dropped off slightly for the company, baskets per customer have increased in size.