Mitchells of Mansfield, the overnight pallet distributor based in Nottinghamshire, has received the UK’s first 18-tonne Renault E Tech electric curtain-sided truck from RH Commercial Vehicles.

Mitchells of Mansfield is a family-run business that started in 1968. In 1995, it became a founding member of Palletways and has also worked with The Pallet Network, Palletline, and The Hazchem Network.

Over the past year, the company has been taking steps toward reducing and offsetting its carbon emissions. New goals have been set to achieve this by 2023, they aim to offset 25% of their carbon, 50% by 2024 and 100% of their carbon by 2026. The addition of the Renault Trucks E-Tech D Wide will significantly help these aims.

Richard Montgomery, Managing Director, commented, “Progression and positive change is a cornerstone of the business. We are doing just that by investing in the latest equipment like the Renault Trucks E-Tech vehicle.”

Zero tailpipe emissions of the Renault Trucks E-Tech D Wide  qualify it to operate in cities enforcing low-emission zones. It is fitted with four 66kW battery packs and the truck is compatible with overnight AC charging as well as fast DC charging.

Simon Bailey, Sales Executive for RHCV, commented. “The truck will be incredibly reliable to Mitchells of Mansfield; it can keep up with the business demands whilst having the capacity to complete a full day’s work on a single charge and emitting zero tailpipe emissions. This also means that it can operate in low-emission zones such as London.

“With it being a curtain-sided vehicle fitted with a tail lift too, means the business can continue to operate quickly and efficiently with speedy load and unload benefits and simplified partial deliveries as they did before on the equivalent diesel-fuelled vehicles.”

To ensure safety as well as sustainability, the vehicle has been fitted with the full halo system from SM UK. This includes front, rear and side cameras which provide the driver with a bird’s eye view of what is happening around them.

Combined with cameras, sensors and audible warning systems, the chances of a collision occurring are drastically reduced, making the roads safer for drivers and vulnerable road users.

Renault Trucks maintain its goal for all its vehicle sales to be completely fossil free.