Lawsons Group has taken another step towards reducing the environmental impact of its fleet with the purchase of two specially designed DAF XD Electric trucks.
The investment makes Lawsons the first builders merchant in the UK to fully purchase DAF electric trucks, marking a significant milestone for both the business and the wider merchant sector.
The arrival of the two electric trucks will follow that of seven Ford E-Transit dropside trucks that will operate across the Greater London area as Lawsons continues to expand the use of electric vehicles throughout its fleet.
The new DAF XD Electric trucks were developed through a collaboration between Lawsons Group, Ford & Slater DAF and commercial vehicle bodybuilder Massey Truck Engineering, with the vehicles specifically configured to meet the demands of builders merchant deliveries.
Dan Hearne, Head of Transport at Lawsons Group, said: "I'm really excited to introduce these new additions to our fleet – the first electric merchant lorries from DAF in the country and the first electric trucks in the Lawsons fleet.
"As a business, we're constantly looking for ways to reduce our environmental impact, particularly as we frequently deliver into urban areas close to homes, schools and other built up areas.
"We have a responsibility to keep looking for innovative ways to operate more sustainably, and these new vehicles are an important part of that. Our fleet already includes 45 electric forklifts, with more to be introduced, while the majority of our company car fleet is now electric."
The Lawsons DAF XD Electric trucks incorporate a number of specialist features designed around the demands of merchant operations. These include a modified 10-tonne front axle and an on-board crane powered directly from the truck's battery. The crane uses a power-on-demand system, helping to minimise overall energy consumption during deliveries.
The two vehicles have also been configured for different operating environments.
One truck is designed for longer regional routes, providing the range required for greater stem mileage. The second has been optimised for deliveries in Central London, with a smaller battery capacity allowing for increased payload, alongside a shorter wheelbase to provide improved manoeuvrability in busy urban environments.
The investment forms part of Lawsons Group's continued commitment to introducing practical technologies that can reduce emissions while maintaining the payload, flexibility and operational capability required by its customers.
