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26
Jan 2024
Ripon's Econ Engineering announces landmark deal for first electric gritter
Ripon firm Econ Engineering has announced a landmark deal for the first fully electric-powered gritter.
The Stray Ferret reported when the firm launched the gritter last year.
A year later, Econ has secured a contract with UK highways specialist Ringway, which has signed up to take delivery of the revolutionary Electric Quick-Change Body (E-QCB) model.
The E-QCB enables the vehicle’s bodywork to be easily switched between gritter, tipper or caged body modes.
Jonathan Lupton, managing director at Econ Engineering, said:
Econ supplies gritters, hot boxes and tippers to local councils and contractors across the UK.
The vehicle utilises sustainable technology, helping customers cut their emissions footprint.
The E-QCB model is built on a 19-tonne Volvo FE Electric 4x2 chassis.
The vehicle was taken on a demonstration tour and gritted rural routes on a snowy day at Sutton Bank. A North Yorkshire Council spokesperson said afterwards:
Ringway is responsible for looking after more than 50,000kms of the UKs highways network and has a long-term strategic fleet partnership with Econ. It is the first contractor to sign up to a deal for the E-QCB.
Dave Olley, operations manager at Ringway said:
The vehicle can be fully charged in less than two hours, runs near silent with a range of up to 170 miles, and with no exhaust gases produced, can make deliveries in zero emission zones.
Read more:
- Ripon firm Econ launches first electric gritter
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- Ripon photographer Tyler, 17, is turning his passion into a career
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