Tippers go electric!
Tippers go electric!
In a first for the United Kingdom, the Lancashire-based Fox Group has put a pair of zero-tailpipe-emissions tippers on the road. WILL SHIERS reports.
The battery-powered Volvo FE Electric 6x2s, which have been fitted with Thompsons Loadmaster Lite bodies, will operate out of a recycling facility on the Enterprise Business Park in Leyland, where charging infrastructure has been installed. They will be used to transport 6F2 recycled capping to customers, bringing hardcore back in.
They support the firm’s road-to-zero commitment, which has already seen it switch staff cars to battery power.
Christian Coolsaet, MD of Volvo Trucks UK & Ireland (and a previous managing director of Volvo Trucks in South Africa), says: “We have an obligation towards the planet and future generations to be sustainable, and the team at Fox Group are setting a fantastic example by becoming early adopters of a new generation of vehicles which are cleaner, greener, and quieter – and which have been developed using the same technology already deployed by Volvo Group in thousands of electrified buses operating worldwide.”
The operator
The Fox Group operates out of 20 locations around the UK, specialising in the supply and haulage of aggregates, recycled materials, muck-shift, earthworks, and civil engineering projects.
The firm has expanded considerably in recent years, and a series of acquisitions has made it one of the largest providers of haulage and plant hire services in the country.
The family-run firm now operates a fleet of more than 270 vehicles consisting predominantly of Scania and Volvo six- and eight-wheel tippers, artics, low-loaders, and road sweepers. It also has 2 500 pieces of plant and machinery, and employs more than 700 people.
Why be an early adopter?
“Our industry is looked at as dirty, but the technology that is out there is fantastic,” says Paul Fox, MD of the Blackpool-based business. “We have a fleet of electric plant – dumpers, excavators, and a loading shovel – and this was a natural progression for us. The days of the dirty muckshifter and fossil fuel getting burned are on the way out.
“We are strongly committed to playing our part in the UK’s push to reach net zero and we will be making more of our fleet electric in the future,” Fox continues. “This milestone is just the beginning of the journey, and we believe if the country is serious about substantially reducing carbon emissions, the construction sector needs to join the party – and we are proud to be playing our part and leading from the front.”
The trucks cost roughly three times the price of an equivalent diesel-powered tipper, but Fox says the company won’t be actively looking to recoup this outlay from its customers. “We will try to get a premium if we can, but it’s unlikely that this will happen, and we won’t push that as a business. For me this isn’t a money-earning exercise,” he explains.
Although these are the first electric trucks in its fleet, they won’t be the last. Fox confirms that he has already committed to a number of Volvo FMX Electric eight-wheel Tridem tippers, which are due to be delivered next year.
Specifications
Featuring eye-catching livery which highlights their green credentials, the FE Electric 6×2 rigids are plated at 27 tonnes. This includes a one-tonne dispensation over a standard three-axle rigid, helping to offset the additional weight of the batteries.
The vehicles feature day cabs, full air suspension, and hydraulically steered rear axles, making them particularly manoeuvrable and ideal for operating in urban areas or accessing building sites with restricted access.
The drivelines consists of four 66-kWh lithium ion battery packs, powering 400-kW twin electric motors, and a two-speed I-Shift transmission. The trucks can use different drive modes to help set the desired performance, comfort, and energy usage levels. Taking the electric PTO into account, they have a range of almost 100 miles (161 km).
The dealer
Supplying dealer Thomas Hardie Commercials worked closely with Fox Group to determine the optimal specification for the vehicles. This was done with the help of Volvo Trucks’ Electric Range Simulator, which considers multiple factors about a customer’s operation, including payload, routes, driving hours, and charging infrastructure.
“They are backed by a comprehensive five-year Volvo Gold Contract,” explains Thomas Hardie Commercials customer solutions manager Neil Crook. This includes preventative maintenance and repairs, and the monitoring of key systems including batteries and other critical components. All scheduled maintenance will take place at its Preston dealership, which is equipped to maintain electric vehicles on a six-weekly maintenance schedule. Crook says chargers have been installed in the workshop so the tippers can be charged while in for inspection or service.
Thomas Hardie Commercials will also provide Fox Group with specific driver training to help the transition for its drivers from diesel to electric. In total three drivers will be trained, but at the time of writing a decision had yet to be made on which of the 100 interested drivers will get the keys. “We only have two (electric trucks) at the moment, but there are more coming through next year, plus we want a spare driver because what we won’t do is put lads in them who haven’t been trained,” says Fox.
The bodybuilder
The tippers are equipped with Thompsons Loadmaster Lite tipping bodies, Edbro CX13 lifting gear, and Shur-co UK solar-powered sheeting systems.
Thompsons Group north sales manager Scott Dunn explains that although the trucks were built in under seven weeks, this was only possible due to a lot of forward planning. A charger was installed on a dedicated bay at one of its Blackburn factories, and 10 members of staff underwent extensive training ahead of the build.
“The trucks had to be decommissioned and recommissioned four times during the build process for safety reasons, so we worked closely with Volvo,” explains Gunn.
- Will Shiers is editor of Commercial Motor (which is where the original version of this article was first published) and the UK jury member for International Truck of the Year
SPECIFICATIONS IN A NUTSHELL
Manufacturer/model: Volvo FE Electric 6×2 tipper
Body type: Thompsons Loadmaster Lite
GVM: 27 000 kg
Power units: 2 x 200 kW
Batteries: 4 x 66 kWh
Battery type: Lithium ion
Transmission: Two-speed I-Shift
Range (max): 100 miles (161 km)
Kerb weight: 14 000 kg
Body/payload allowance: 13 000 kg
Photography by Craig Ecclestone
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