Falkirk Council has gone electric, with the addition of seven 100% electric new Citroen e-Dispatch vans to its LCV fleet. The vehicles were supplied by Arnold Cark, Armadale.
Falkirk Council in Scotland has made the switch to electric vans, sourcing its first batch of Citroen e-Dispatch LCVs via Arnold Clark in Armadale. The addition of these seven new 100% electric, multi-award winning vans comes as the council looks to build an electric vehicle fleet and to operate more sustainably.
Falkirk Council placed orders for Citroen e-Dispatch Enterprise vans with XS body length and a 50kWh battery, which perfectly meets their needs. The vehicles have since been deployed to support essential building maintenance work throughout the council region, helping to improve and further develop facilities for its residents.
Acquired though Arnold Cark in Armadale, Falkirk Council were able to fund the purchase of their new zero emissions fleet with the help of Transport Scotland’s ‘Switched On Towns and Cities Challenge Fund’ and ‘Switched on Fleet Fund’ schemes, which encourage key environmental changes such as vehicle electrification. Falkirk Council was attracted to the new Citroen e-Dispatch thanks to its practical range and sizeable load capacity, whilst additions such as a pipe carrier roof rack and plywood lining allow further functionality for everyday use.
The multi-award winning Citroen e-Dispatch is the first vehicle to form part of Citroen’s electrification strategy to offer fully electric variants across its van range by the end of 2021 – with new e-Relay large van available to order now and new e -Berlingo Van later this year.
Available with a choice of two battery sizes, e-Dispatch is capable of up to 143 miles (WLTP) with the 50kWh battery option, or up to 205 miles (WLTP) with the larger 75kWh battery pack. New e-Dispatch can be easily charged at home or on site through a 7kW wallbox, or via a super-fast public charging station at speeds of up to 100kW that can re-charge the battery to 80% of capacity in just 30 or 45 minutes, for 50kWh and 75kWh versions respectively.
New Citroen e-Dispatch also provides significant financial benefits to local authorities and businesses when driven in and around cities with Ultra Low Emissions Zones (ULEZ), such as London. The vehicles’ zero emissions make them exempt from Congestion and ULEZ charges. In addition, analysis conducted by Citroen UK found that the total cost of ownership for a new e -Dispatch van could be less than 50% that for an equivalent Diesel van.
Laura Campbell, Fleet Co-ordinator for Falkirk Council, commented: “I would like to thank Iian Bain at Arnold Clark, Armadale who consistently does an outstanding job of ensuring our vehicle needs for Falkirk Council are met. With an incredible amount of product knowledge and high standard of communications, Iian made our recent 100% electric Citroen e-Dispatch fleet additions a seamless experience, which puts us well on our way to achieving our EV ambitions as a council. The introduction of new Citroen e-Dispatch to our fleet will give us the confidence that we can undertake our services in an environmental and cost-effective way, without any compromise to practical necessities like load space and vehicle range.”
New e-Dispatch also provides operators with an optimum level of carrying capacity and payload. The battery has been positioned under the floor of the vehicle to maximise load space, providing up to 6.6m3 of load volume and a payload of up to 1,002kg. Thanks to the electric motor, drivers can now enjoy zero emissions as well as a more serene driving experience for more relaxing journeys. Available in a choice of three trim levels (‘X’, ‘Enterprise’ and ‘Driver’), three lengths (‘XS’, ‘M’ and ‘XL’), and two battery sizes (50kWh and 75kWh), there is a new e-Dispatch to suit every need.
Scott Westerby, Citroen UK’s Fleet Director, commented: “I am proud that the Citroen e-Dispatch has been selected as the electric LCV of choice in Falkirk Council’s latest round of procurement. A key model in our electric vehicle range, new e-Dispatch is an ideal solution for public and private sector operators alike, as it strikes a perfect balance between maintaining all the capacity of non-electric versions, and offering zero tailpipe emissions with significant whole life cost benefits.”
