The Volta Zero, a large electric truck designed for ‘last-mile’ deliveries, will be put into use in the heart of Central London this summer.
A fleet of the electric trucks, which can carry a payload of up to 8200kg, will be provided by Swedish firm Volta Trucks to The Crown Estate, one of the largest property owners in the capital’s West End and its distribution firm, Clipper Logistics.
The Crown Estate will use the fleet of Volta Zero to make zero-emission deliveries to its retail, dining, leisure and residential properties in London’s West End. The property management’s London portfolio covers 10 million sq ft centred around Regent Street and St James’s.
The Crown Estate uses a single consolidation centre located just outside the London Congestion Charge zone, and since 2008 has worked with Clipper Logistics to consolidate multiple goods deliveries to reduce the number of delivery journeys to Regent Street. When the trial starts this summer, those consolidated deliveries will be made in Volta Zero trucks.
The Volta Zero uses either a 150kWh or 225kWh battery giving a range of 90-125 miles, making it ideal for ‘last-mile’ delivery use in cities. Volta claims the relatively large size of the machine means a single Zero will replace several smaller vans, helping to reduce congestion in London.
Judith Everett, who is increase of sustainability at The Crown Estate, said: “This partnership is another important step towards reducing congestion, improving air quality, and making our streets safer and more accessible across the West End.”
And just in case you were wondering: yes, The Crown Estate is owned by the Queen. Well, sort of. It was founded way back in 1760 by George III, and is a collection of lands and holdings that form ‘the sovereign’s public estate’, which is to say they’re not privately owned by the monarch or government properly.
The Crown Estate is one of the largest property management firms in the UK, managing properly in central London, rural holding such as the Windsor Estate and the seabed around England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Profit generated goes to the Treasury.
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