Pegasus take a skip into the future with new Volvo FE Electric

Stourbridge-based Pegasus Skip Hire has added a new Volvo FE Electric to its fleet – the first electric skiploader Volvo Trucks has delivered into operation in the UK.

A long-standing customer with the Swedish manufacturer, the forward-thinking business opted for the zero-tailpipe emission FE Electric following a visit to Volvo Trucks Experience Centre (VTEX), in Sweden. The truck will be used to deliver and collect skips to a wide customer base across the West Midlands.

Tony Hall, Director at Pegasus Skip Hire, says: “As a business we strive to be as environmentally friendly as possible and are always looking at innovative ways to help us achieve our sustainability ambitions.

“We were fortunate enough to be invited to Sweden to test out the electric fleet and were hugely impressed by the quality of the vehicles, and the fact that Volvo Trucks already has a full range of electric trucks available to order. We are proud to be pioneers on the journey to a cleaner and greener future for our sector.”

Supplied by Jamie Stanley, Area Sales Manager at Hartshorne Group, the new Volvo FE Electric has been mounted with Multilift skiploader bodywork and is powered by two electric motors, generating a peak torque of 850 Nm.

Driven by a two-speed transmission, offering a smooth and comfortable driving experience, the FE Electric’s power is handled by a unique traction control system developed to master even slippery surfaces, while different drive modes are available to set the desired performance, comfort, and energy usage levels.

Equipped with four batteries, it offers a range of approximately 190km and can be recharged in just 2.3 hours using the 150kW DC charger that has been installed at Pegasus Skip Hire’s Stourbridge depot.

“We are fully expecting the new electric truck to fit seamlessly into our daily operations and hope to add more to our fleet in the future,” adds Hall. “Around 90 per cent of our 100-strong commercial vehicle fleet is now Volvo. It’s great to work with a supplier which understands our business needs and supports us at every step of the process.”

Backed by a Volvo Gold Contract, covering all maintenance and repairs, and including proactive monitoring of batteries and associated components, the FE Electric is expected to work five days a week and is anticipated to be on the fleet for seven years.