Electric van fleet launched by Foodstuffs

The first of 28 all-electric vans for Foodstuffs New Zealand’s fleet were revealed at a ceremony in Christchurch yesterday.

The company paid $500,000 and received the same amount from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority’s (EECA) low emission vehicles contestable fund for the project to bring the Nissan e-NV200 vans from the United Kingdom.

Nichibo took care of the delivery logistics and the vans are in New World, Pak ‘n Save and Four Square livery.

The vans have a 120km range but will mainly do deliveries in the appropriate supermarket’s area.

Fourteen are on the road now and the rest of the vans will ready shortly, spread around stores from north of Auckland to Dunedin.

“The EECA funding is designed to encourage innovation and investment that will accelerate the uptake of electric and other low emission vehicles (LEVs) in New Zealand that might not otherwise occur,” Foodstuffs New Zealand managing director Steve Anderson says.

The van rollout complements EV fast charging stations being installed at some of the stores which can be used by customers while they shop.

Fast charging points are already at New World supermarkets in Warkworth, Kumeu, Te Kuiti, Otaki and Northwood. Most are in partnership with ChargeNet and local lines companies.

Foodstuffs New Zealand sustainability manager Mike Sammons says the stations will become increasingly useful to customers as more New Zealanders transition to EVs.

The vans are highly visible and Sammons expects they’ll be a talking point, encouraging more businesses and people to introduce EVs.

“For Foodstuffs, this is just a small part of our efforts to reduce our carbon footprint and make our business more environmentally sustainable.”