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First electric vans to hit road with green shopping

April 23, 2007

• 20% of online delivery van fleet to be electric by September 2008
• Fleet will save 45 tonnes of CO₂ emissions in first year
• Pledge to deliver 100% of online shopping in electric vans by 2010

In the biggest UK conversion of its kind, Sainsbury's announces today that it will be the first major UK retailer to convert a fifth (20%) of its online delivery fleet to green electric vehicles. 

The trial of the "Little green van" - which is a carbon friendly battery powered van - proved so successful that the supermarket has placed a bulk order and aims to roll out the green vans across the UK in the next 3 years.

By September 2008, 20% of the supermarket's online deliveries will be made using electric vans, saving 45 tonnes of CO₂ emissions in the first year, and delivering grocery shopping to 50,000 *customers.

An average 3.5 tonne diesel van uses approximately 0.36 kg of CO₂ per kilometre and the equivalent battery powered van built by Smith Electric Vehicles, uses only 0.20 kg -a saving of 44%.

This is yet another green initiative launched by Sainsbury's, which recently launched a series of ‘Make the Difference' days - the first to ban disposable carrier bags (27^th April). It addition, - last year the supermarket launched Arts Council reusable carrier bags, and compostable packaging.  It positions Sainsbury's ‘online shop' as one of the greenest shops available. 

Sainsbury's customers who have their shopping delivered by the new electric shopping van are reducing their CO₂ footprint by not using their own car.  In addition, their plastic bags are taken away by drivers to be recycled and Sainsbury's drivers use GPS to ensure that they take the most efficient route through busy city centres and residential roads.

Each zero-emission van will save 5 tonnes of CO₂ per year - the equivalent of one round trip from London to Rio de Janeiro, or the entire annual CO₂ footprint of a small UK household. This saving is in addition to the 780,000 ** customer car journeys that an average Sainsbury's online delivery van takes off the road each year.

In the future Sainsbury's may be able to charge-up vehicles from a renewable energy source, such as wind farms, thereby leaving no carbon footprint. Currently, the Edison vans are charged from traditional electricity sources using a fraction of the carbon of a traditional van. 

Sainsbury's was the first major retailer to test electric delivery vans back in 2005. Following the successful trial, the supermarket has now committed to purchase 8 more vans, bringing the total fleet to 9, and to aim to run 100% of its urban online shops with electric delivery vans by 2010.   In one year alone, these 9 vehicles will save 45 tonnes of CO₂. 

The revolutionary van can travel 150 miles in a day and recharges it's batteries overnight. Contained in a universally recognised shell - the Ford Transit van - the vehicle will perform all the usual tasks of a traditional diesel Ford Transit van - but without the environmental impact. Importantly, the vehicle also requires very little maintenance and is much cheaper to run than a traditional van.

Sainsbury's has been working behind the scenes for 2 years with leading UK manufacture Smith Electric Vehicles to produce an effective delivery vehicle which crucially weighs only 3.5 tonnes - ensuring the maximum weight for a vehicle before special driving licences have to be obtained - essential for a commercial delivery operation.

Simon Skeet, Operations Manager for Sainsbury's Online said: "This is yet another example of how Sainsbury's is taking environmental issues seriously and has invested in new energy sources for our business and the future.

Our fleet will start small - but the long term plans mean that all our delivery vans operating in high areas of ‘delivery density' - such as towns and cities - will be battery powered in the very near future.

Thorough testing during the trial has given us a unique insight in the vehicle's capabilities - and has demonstrated that with the right technology we can potentially take hundreds of conventional delivery vans out of our urban delivery fleet."

Darren Kell, Chief Executive of Smith Electric Vehicles, said: "Sainsbury's was the first major retailer to recognise the economic and environmental benefits our electric vehicles could bring to its fleet.

"We have worked closely with Sainsbury's over the past two years, to ensure that we delivered a zero emission vehicle which actually outperforms the diesel equivalent in urban areas."

Notes to Editors:

• UK Government wants to reduce total CO₂ emission by 60% before 2050. This will have to involve a zero emission solution.
• Electric vans are exempt from central London congestion charge.
• *Each van completes approx 100 deliveries per week 52 wks X 9 vans = approx 50,000 shopping deliveries.
• ** (15,000 orders per week X 52 weeks).
• Sainsbury's new ‘Little green van' - if charged from a renewable energy source, such as wind farms, their operation leaves no carbon footprint.
• Sainsbury's vans will be charged overnight - the top speed is 50mph and can drive up to 150 miles based on one ‘charge'.
• The original trial took place in a London store with one van - which has already saved 5 tonnes of CO₂.
• Sainsbury's was the first retailer to embark on a trial of electric delivery vans in 2005
• The average NEW CAR bought during 2005 emitted 169g per km: (Full copies of the report, UK New Car Registrations by CO₂ Performance, can be ordered via the SMMT web site.
• Sainsbury's electric transit van will be revealed at The Commercial Vehicle Show that takes place at the Birmingham NEC from Tuesday April 24 to Thursday April 26. Smith Electric Vehicles will display the battery-powered Ford Transit in Hall 4, Stand 4331.

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