NGC Logistics, an Amazon delivery service partner, has taken on the first Renault Trucks Master Red Edition Z.E. delivered to a customer in Europe – as well as the company’s first all-electric vehicle.
Operating out of Amazon’s Northampton Delivery Station, these 3.1 tonne Master Z.E. L2H2 panel vans provide a fully electric service to customers in Northampton and Milton Keynes undertaking the same number of deliveries as traditional diesel engine vehicles.
NGC is the first Amazon delivery service partner in the UK to put a fully electric van into service. “This investment into electric vans is entirely led by our customers; with Amazon clearly stating their intention to become carbon neutral and consumers becoming more aware of their impact on climate change,” explained Kevin Savage, NGC’s operations director. “The need to change without slowing the supply chain or significantly increasing cost was paramount and has been achieved through cooperation with everyone involved delivering the program in time for the busiest period of the year.
“With the ever-increasing demand for environmentally-friendly vehicles and the introduction of more low emission zones, we decided to not only invest in electric vehicles but also to set ourselves a challenging deadline of a Black Friday [29 November] launch to market.”
In NGC’s new electric blue livery, the Master Z.E. is powered by Renault Trucks’ all electric 57kW Z.E. engine with 33kWh lithium-ion battery and automatic gearbox, offering a range of up to 120km.
This is the first of four Master Z.E’s to join NGC’s mixed fleet of more than 50 Renault trucks and vans, from LCVs which include CitiLoader curtainside and EasiLoader Luton box bodied vehicles, to Range D rigids at 18 and 26 tonnes and Range T380 tractor units, plus 10 trailers.
Graeme Wilson, group sales director, Allports Group, which supplied the van, said the company was “delighted” meet the Black Friday deadline. “This is a great time of year to put the new Master Z.E. through its paces, as colder weather and shorter daylight hours means lights and heating is switched on,” he said. “We’re pleased to report that the Z.E.’s range is performing well in these conditions and we look forward to working with NGC to support their sustainability strategy.”
For Grahame Neagus, head of LCV Renault Trucks UK & Ireland, electromobility is the answer to the challenges of air quality and noise pollution in urban areas: “The Master Z.E. is perfectly suited to NGC’s final mile deliveries. As we move to a lower carbon economy, our electric vehicles will drive the future, not only improving air quality and efficiency, but also enabling noise-free out of hours deliveries to reduce congestion.”
