Electric commercial vehicle technology pioneer, Tevva, has launched a new initiative designed to enable logistics fleets to commence electrification of medium duty trucks as soon as next Spring.
The ELECTRIFY programme allows companies to take the first step by deploying Tevva’s unique package of EV technologies – including bespoke battery packs and management system, advanced cloud-based software that uses geofencing to autonomously control a range extender – on its in-service, medium duty trucks.
The initiative is being spearheaded by seven companies based between London and Oxford which, as early adopters, are committing to being part of the first ELECTRIFY programme and will be taking delivery of a collective total of eight eTrucks featuring Tevva’s ready-made EV solutions.
Targeting companies from a wide range of urban distribution sectors, including food, healthcare and janitorial services, the initiative also aims to help drive confidence in EV technology as logistics firms look to lower total cost of fleet ownership, comply with current and future emissions regulations and address their carbon footprint and impact on air quality and climate change.
Commenting on the development, David Thackray, Tevva Sales & Marketing Director, said: “When Tevva was founded in 2013, the question that businesses were asking was whether or not electric trucks could displace diesel in the commercial vehicle sector. The question today is ‘when’ they will displace diesel. The electrification of the commercial vehicle sector is now inevitable and it’s now simply a question of how quickly it will happen. The answer is that it will happen sooner than most people think. The big players in the transport industry already see the benefits, opportunities and potential of technology like ours but too many businesses in the UK and across Europe still have a relatively low level of awareness. ELECTRIFY will enable a better understanding and increased adoption to accelerate significantly by proving beyond any possible doubt in real-world environments that logistics electrification technology is ready to displace diesel now. This is crucially important for the planet – the climate emergency is shockingly real and it won’t wait for industry to catch up, which is why we are doing everything we can to move things on with the alacrity required.”
Over the next two years, the ELECTRIFY programme’s 50 vehicles will be deployed across over 200 fleets in at least five countries, amassing an estimated 4 million km that will prove that businesses can save up to 20% on TCO but also have an environmentally effective solution.
The Tevva initiative offers participating companies a three or six-month trial period, during which the customer can integrate the new 12-tonne GVW electric truck, based on the Avia D-series, and incorporating all of Tevva’s core technologies into their regular fleet operations – without compromise.
The co-liveried truck is rented by the customer, running unlimited mileage with the vehicle over the period of the demonstration, during which Tevva will provide detailed telematics data to show all operational elements, such as mileage completed, energy consumed, grid energy used and range extender fuel consumption vs energy generated.
Tevva will also provide customers with all necessary training for their technicians and drivers to ensure safety during the trial and optimise the benefits of the on-board technologies.
With the shared learning and data generated by participation in the ELECTRIFY programme, businesses can not only help prove the real-world performance of the technology to the wider market, but also benefit from the option to retain the vehicle at the end of the trial period and priority ordering and build slots for any further vehicles they wish to purchase.
Tevva’s technology package cover the battery pack, battery management, drive system and range extender and include a state-of-the-art vehicle control and telematics system which safely manages the vehicle and enables low running costs by optimising use of the battery and range extender.