Supplied by Elliot Tratt at Sparks Commercial Services, Exeter Window Store, a company with a compact two-vehicle fleet, has historically turned to Renault Trucks for its light commercial vehicles. This year, the business has taken a step forward by introducing two new vans to its fleet – one electric Trafic Red EDITION L2H1 panel van - and one diesel Renault Trucks Master Red EDITION with dropside body.
The new Renault Trucks E-Tech Trafic, equipped with a R75 electric motor and a 52kWh lithium-ion battery, has a real-life range of up to 150 miles on a single charge. With zero-emissions and zero-noise pollution, the vans can operate without restriction in highly regulated zones and is perfectly suited to Exeter Window Stores’ last mile deliveries in urban areas.
The E-Tech Trafic Red EDITION comes with wireless smartphone charger, 8" multimedia display with wireless smartphone replication screen and upper front bumper, rear lights corners & lateral door rail painted as standard. The vehicle has also been specified with additional extras for safety and convenience including rear-mounted reversing camera and parking assistance in the form of front, rear and side radars.
“We’ve always used Renault Trucks because the service is excellent and efficient,” explains George Otton, Branch Manager, Exeter Window Store. “Elliot at Sparks, in particular, is brilliant – quick with quotes, on the ball with order updates, and genuinely can’t do enough to help us out.”
While the diesel van continues to meet the business’s longer-distance needs, the E-Tech Trafic electric van was chosen specifically for local deliveries.
According to George Otton, the van’s range is more than sufficient for day-to-day operations: “For short local trips, it’s absolutely spot-on. The range lasts us most of the week, and we just plug it in when it gets back to base.”
The company charges the van on site, taking full advantage of its predictable daily mileage. It’s a practical solution for Exeter Window Store’s delivery rounds, balancing cost efficiency with the environmental benefits of going electric.
Exeter Window Store’s move to electric comes as part of a broader strategy to minimise its environmental impact. “As a business, we’re always looking for ways to do things better for the environment and society,” George concludes. “This electric van is just one of several changes we’re rolling out in the coming months.”