Harrods has added a Nissan e-NV200 to its delivery fleet, more than 100 years after the department store first used an electric vehicle.
The e-NV200 covers a range of up to 106 miles on a single charge. According to Nissan, this will enable it to make around 50 deliveries per week covering an average of around 150 miles, meaning Harrods will only need to charge it once a week. Nissan also claims the running costs could be as low as 2p per mile.
Harrods first adopted EVs for deliveries in the early 20th century. In 1919, the department store used solid-tyred American Walker electric vans, later building its own fleet of 60 electric vehicles. The rise of the petrol engine eventually squeezed them out, but the new e-NV200 marks the return of the EV to the fleet.
“Harrods was one of the first companies in the UK to develop an all-electric commercial fleet, introducing our first electric vehicle over 100 years ago,” said Guy Cheston, media sales director at Harrods. “Electric technology has developed rapidly since our old fleet was in operation, and is now a far more sustainable transport solution.”
“It’s wonderful to see an electric Harrods van on the roads of London again. As one of Britain’s largest established department stores, we are committed to reducing our carbon emissions and mitigating our environmental footprint. As part of our carbon and energy management policy, we have identified transportation as a key area where we can make a real impact.”
The 100 per cent electric van has been customised specifically for Harrods, with the load space fully refrigerated to facilitate grocery deliveries. The van has also been decked out in Harrods’ distinctive green and gold livery.
With a range of up to 106 miles on a single charge and deliveries per week of around 150 miles, I think Harrods will find they need to charge it TWICE a week!
50 deliveries per week covering an average of 150 miles works out at 7500 miles (average) per week divided by an average range of 106 miles per charge gives a recharge requirement of 71 times per week – it is easy to put any interpretation on statistics if they are poorly worded – god help us in untangling ourselves from euro-bureaucracy!
The Nissan van can recharge itself to a certain extent, by using regenerative braking.
Basically, every time the driver lifts off the accelerator, the motor keeps spinning – but generates electricity, rather than uses it. This electricity is fed back into the batteries, giving them a top-up while on the move.
It’s an old idea. It dates back to the 1890s, when it was used on electric conversions of horse-drawn carriages, and it has been used on electric railways since the 1930s.
In this case, it means that the van can carry on driving for extended periods, topping up its batteries as it goes, before it needs to plug in for a full charge-up. On an around-town delivery vehicle that’s constantly braking (and therefore constantly topping up its batteries) this might indeed be necessary only once a week.