IF you are based in a beautiful area of Britain, a key consideration has to be reduced impact on the environment. Especially if you are using vans to deliver to your outlets.
So Forest of Bowland employer James’ Places Group – which owns a collection of pubs, rural inns and hotels across Lancashire, Yorkshire and Cumbria – has taken delivery of two Renault Kangoo electric vans.
The Renault Kangoo Z.E. 33 vans – winner of the Business Van of the Year award for Best Green Van – have been supplied by Barnoldswick-based Coolvan Limited.
With an effective range of more than 100 miles, the 100% electric vans are ideal for making local deliveries, says James’ Places Group also noting that reduced wear and tear items mean less servicing and maintenance than conventional vehicles.
The Renault electric vans will shuttle between James’ Places eight locations in the Ribble Valley, Forest of Bowland, Yorkshire Dales and South Cumbria – transporting beer from Bowland Brewery and other stock between venues.
Zero emissions and lower maintenance costs were key considerations
To support the new sustainable delivery network, the Group has also installed computer-controlled Podpoint smart charging stations at all its venues, allowing delivery vehicles to top up their batteries while unloading their cargo.
Subject to operational demands, the new charging network will be also be available to hotel guests and visiting electric vehicle users to recharge their cars whilst they refuel with a sandwich or bar meal.
James’ Places is an active member of Champion Bowland – a charity which works to enhance the landscape and encourage sustainable tourism in the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
James’ Places Chairman James Warburton said: “We are lucky to live and work within a rural Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty which locals and visitors alike appreciate for its fresh air and tranquillity and we’d like to keep it that way.
“Our new electric vans are virtually silent in operation and emissions-free – which is a definite step in the right direction when delivering in busy town centres and to rural country inns.
“Driving a smooth, silent, clean electric vehicle for the first time is a real breath of fresh air and by investing in these vans to deliver our outstanding ales, we’d like to think we’re doing our bit to keep the Forest of Bowland beautiful.”
It is cool that we start using alternative sources of energy more and more 🙂