Sainsbury’s delivery fleet goes green…

Last week Sainsbury’s, the GB superstore, reaffirmed its commitment to building a better, greener future by announcing its intention to purchase a further 50 electric vans, giving the company the largest commercial EV fleet in the world. The recent news just goes to show that, even amidst the biggest financial crisis that this country has ever known, companies are still able to expand and think about a greener more environmentally friendly future.

In a statement Sainsbury’s announced that having completed a successful trial in 2006 and after the initial purchase of 20 vehicles in 2007, the company was now prepared to continue its modernisation programme in an effort to meet its commitments regarding CO2 emissions. Back in 2007 Sainsbury’s announced an ambitious plan to turn their entire online delivery fleet 100% green by 2010. However, with only a few weeks till 2010 left, it looks like the retailer may have faltered slightly on proposals, but their intentions were good nonetheless.

The additional 50 vehicles due to be delivered within the next year are manufactured by the Smith Electric Vehicles company, based near Newcastle. The company has enjoyed a series of successes within the last few years and has made a number of vans for several prominent delivery and van hire companies including Royal Mail, DHL and TNT. The company currently has several models including the Edison 3.5-4.6t van and the Newton 7.5-12t lorry.

Although Sainsbury’s has made a noble and forward thinking step by transferring the majority of its inner London fleet to electric vehicles, the cynic in me suggests that the companies decision to change has more to do with the current tax relief of up to £5,000 on electric vehicles, the lack of an applied congestion charge for EV’s and the newly derived EU emission limits which are due to be implemented within the next two years. When you add all of this up it makes a great deal of sense for a company as big as Sainsbury’s to switch to environmentally friendly vehicles. Still despite their reasons, whatever they may be, it’s still a progressive step in the right direction….