Bunzl and Sodexo launch industry's first electric vehicle

Bunzl Catering Supplies, in partnership with contract caterer Sodexo, has launched a new electric vehicle to deliver food and non-food supplies to several key London sites.

The 7.5 tonne light-goods vehicle was officially unveiled at City of London Police, Wood Street, where Sodexo provides food and facilities management services, and will make its first official delivery on 1 March.

The CO2 emissions-free and noise-free vehicle has a range of up to 130 miles and a top speed of around 50mph. A day's usage will cost 10% of the cost of fuel used by a conventional vehicle covering the same distance and drivers will be able to recharge the vehicle at any standard three-phase socket.

The introduction of the vehicle forms an integral part of Bunzl's ‘BeGreen' policy, which sets standards and measures operating improvements in areas such as recycling, reducing fuel usage and sourcing green products, and Sodexo's ‘Better Tomorrow Plan', a sustainability roadmap to 2020.

Max Harris, Operations & Regional Sales Director at Bunzl Catering Supplies said: "We are delighted to unveil our first electric vehicle to service the catering and hospitality industry in London and feel proud to be the first UK distributor within our sector to do so. Our environmental strategy is multifaceted. Our objective is to further reduce our environmental impact and look for new ways to improve our performance and therefore reduce our carbon footprint. We are committed to switching to electric light goods vehicles for distribution in urban areas."

The main base for the vehicle will be at a Bunzl branch in Charlton, allowing easy access to significant parts of London.