Deal signed for world’s first ever electric powered gritting vehicle

Econ Engineering’s fully electric-powered gritter has secured a landmark contract, with UK highways specialist Ringway signing up to take delivery of the E-QCB (Electric Quick Change Body).

It is the first ever completely electric vehicle of its kind on the market.

A manufacturer of winter maintenance and highways vehicles, Ripon-based Econ Engineering supplies gritters, hot boxes and tippers to hundreds of local councils and contractors across the UK

The E-QCB enables the vehicle’s bodywork to be switched between gritter, tipper or caged body modes, with transformation taking no longer than 15 minutes.

Ringway, responsible for looking after more than 50,000 km of the UKs highways network, has a long-term strategic fleet partnership with Econ and is the first contractor to sign up to a deal for this vehicle.

The vehicle comes with alternative battery configurations to allow optimisation of range and payload.

It can be fully charged in less than two hours – subject to infrastructure – has a range of up to 170 miles depending on load and road conditions, and with no exhaust gases produced can make deliveries in zero emission zones.

Dave Olley, operations manager at Ringway, said: “Ringway Hertfordshire is committed to delivering a sustainable service.

“Working with Econ Engineering we trialled the fully electric E-QCB multi-purpose vehicle and are now looking forward to adding it to our fleet and putting it to use on the UK’s road network.”

Jonathan Lupton, managing director at Econ Engineering, said: “We have spent a long time developing the E-QCB, undertaking comprehensive redesigns and trials across the UK, to ensure we can offer a fully electric solution for our customers that can be used 52 weeks a year.

“We are happy to extend what is already a strong relationship with Ringway by adding the E-QCB to its fleet.

“We are confident the vehicle will continue to impress and that its benefits will soon result in more deals of this kind.”

Christian Coolsaet, managing director of Volvo Trucks UK & Ireland, added: “Every part of the transport sector needs to have its sights set on achieving net zero, and gritting and snowploughing is no exception.

“The team at Econ has developed an exceptional new product with our FE Electric chassis at its heart.

“This is going to allow gritter fleets to reap the benefits of operating cleaner, quieter and more efficient trucks.”