Exeter Window Store has taken delivery of its first-ever electric van in the form of a Renault Trucks E-Tech Trafic Red Edition.
The order marks a significant move towards more sustainable operations and also further strengthens the company’s long-standing partnership with Renault Trucks.
The Devon-based uPVC superstore has a compact two-vehicle fleet and has historically turned to Renault Trucks for its light commercial vehicles.
This year, the business has taken a step forward by introducing two new vans to its fleet – one electric Trafic Red Edition L2H1 panel van – and one diesel Renault Trucks Master Red Edition with dropside body, supplied by Sparks Commercial Services.
The new E-Tech Trafic, equipped with a 122hp electric motor and a 52kWh lithium-ion battery, is calculated to have a real-life range of up to 150 miles on a single charge.
While the diesel van continues to meet the business’s longer-distance needs, the E-Tech Trafic electric van was chosen specifically for local deliveries.
With zero-emissions and zero-noise pollution, the van can operate without restriction in highly regulated zones and is perfectly suited to Exeter Window Stores’ last-mile deliveries in urban areas.
George Otton, branch manager, Exeter Window Store, said the van’s range is more than sufficient for day-to-day operations.
“For short local trips, it’s absolutely spot on. The range lasts us most of the week, and we just plug it in when it gets back to base.”
The van is charged onsite and delivers a practical solution for Exeter Window Store’s delivery rounds, balancing cost efficiency with the environmental benefits of going electric.
Exeter Window Store’s move to electric comes as part of a broader strategy to minimise its environmental impact.
“As a business, we’re always looking for ways to do things better for the environment and society,” Otton concluded. “This electric van is just one of several changes we’re rolling out in the coming months.”
