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A Modec battery-electric dropsider has been commissioned by Islington Council in North London, as part of a drive to make the borough's vehicle fleet more environmentally friendly. Fleet and depot manager Chris Rutherford told Motor Transport that both Modec and Smith electric vehicles were considered. Performance and range of the two makes were similar, but the Modec was judged to have the edge from an ergonomic and image perspective.

In a five-day evaluation trial it performed well,  says Rutherford, its sodium-nickel-chloride traction batteries able to deliver a range of some 280km, albeit with the vehicle unladen, in typical inner London stop-start conditions. In working mode, providing support for road maintenance teams, with up to 60 tail-lift operations, he says a range of at least 140km should be possible. For road maintenance duties, often working at night, where its silent, emission-free electric drive will be of greatest benefit, the Modec's batteries are expected to need charging no more than twice a week.

Rutherford acknowledges that battery charging from the mains, reliant on power station electricity, makes 'zero emissions' from electric vehicles something of a misnomer. But that issue too is being addressed in Islington, where there are plans for roof-mounted solar panels on council buildings to generate electrical power, including that required for to charge the Modec's power-plant.

Rutherford says Islington has embarked on a number of  other emissions reduction prog-rammes. All its diesel vehicles above 3.5 tonnes gvw are now fuelled with 5% blend bio-diesel. And it is one of the seven boroughs participating in Transport for London's Seltrans scheme, one of whose aims is to generate renewable bio-fuel from vegetable and other waste material.

Bio-fuel use is howeverbeing introduced cautiously says Rutherford, because any deviations in fuel quality from the EN590 standard could threaten engine durability and the borough's vehicle replacement cycle costings. It has also around 30 running on LPG. Islington has 20 new Euro 5 compliant Dennis Elite waste collection vehicles on order for delivery towards the end of the year, when the RPC scheme has come into force, enabling them to qualify for VED rebates.