What Van? Awards 2025 | Green Innovation Award
The AA T
aking the Green Innovation Award this year in one of the most hotly contested categories is the AA.
Despite the challenges being faced in meeting its own net-zero target for 2035, the AA continues to look ahead. By their nature, recovery vehicles do not naturally suit fully electric operation, there are no ‘off the shelf’ vehicles available and currently no other UK-based roadside assistance firm has an electric recovery vehicle operational on its fleet. Te AA operates over 7,000 vehicles, including 3,000 patrol vans, and these are required to tow a loaded trailer weighing up to 2.2 tonnes, something virtually no electric van is capable of, and, if it were, the range on a single charge would be severely restricted. Te AA is passionate about reducing its carbon footprint and how it has approached the future adaptations of its fleet in order to meet its own target is testament to this. Te AA has been working with industry partners on a ‘test and scale’ approach to create bespoke solutions where alternative fuelled vehicles could potentially work. One example of this is a project involving Iveco’s eDaily van. A specialist conversion has been designed to allow the vehicle to be fitted with the otherwise commonly used CRT (Compact Recovery Trailer). Te trailer can carry casualty vehicles weighing up to 3,250kg and is designed to allow the recovery of electric vehicles, which come with unique challenges. Despite this extensive capability, the vehicle also has seated accommodation for up to six passengers around a custom designed table. Te van has a twin battery
Early in 2024, there were already 20 alternatively fuelled vehicles operating within nine fully electric vans and three HVO fuelled vehicles.
arrangement, and this allows for a practical range between charges of around 160 miles. Another concept vehicle that has been
introduced is the Iveco eDaily Powerload. Tis incorporates a remote loading system which allows the operator to deploy loading ramps with minimal manual intervention. Te vehicle is intended for use primarily in low or zero emission zones, and the 100 mile range can be reinstated in under an hour using an 80kWh rapid charger. Trials are not just being limited to vans
and smaller, chassis-based electric vehicles. Te Volvo FE Boniface slidebed truck has been introduced to the fleet. Tis vehicle, with a 6,000kg payload on its integral recovery bed and an additional 2,000kg on its trailed car lift allows heavier vehicles to be recovered in an environmentally friendly way. Tere is capacity for two passengers in addition to the driver. Te truck has a more than ample range of 170 miles between charges, and when connected to a 150kWh high-speed rapid charger, can be recharged in just 2.25 hours.
Highly commended Bridgestone Mobility Solutions
Highly commended in this category, Bridgestone Mobility Solutions continues to streamline
40 Trials are not being restricted to battery
electric vehicles. Te AA is also running feasibility tests on hydrogen vans and those operating on HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil). Early in 2024, there were already 20 alternatively fuelled vehicles operating within the fleet, including nine fully electric vans and three HVO-fuelled vehicles which are being tested in the north west of England. Te introduction of these and other
electric vehicles is critical in reducing CO2 emissions across the fleet. Diesel trucks on
per mile whilst the electric ones are seeing between 0.21kg and 0.46kg of CO2
the fleet are emitting an average of 0.79kg CO2
.
Te company is committed to increasing the number of electric vehicles which have the additional health benefit of zero tailpipe emissions. With significant investment and this collaborative approach with partners, the AA aims to have a minimum of 60 alternatively fuelled vehicles on its fleet by the end of 2025 and is committed to overcoming any challenges encountered along the way.
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