Sodexo Defence to use its first electric retail vehicles
Sodexo Defence has taken delivery of Sodexo's first electric retail vehicles as part of a programme to reduce its fuel consumption and carbon footprint.
The two vehicles, which are noise and C02 emissions-free, are mobile catering vans designed to offer hot and cold snacks and drinks. They have been leased from supply chain partners Goupil.
They will service the Royal Navy's Air Stations, Culdrose in Cornwall and Yeovilton in Somerset, home to the Fleet Air Arm's front-line and training squadrons, hundreds of aircraft and helicopters, and thousands of personnel - air and ground crew - plus civilian staff.
The electric vehicles will be providing scheduled services at aircraft hangars and workshops located away from Sodexo's main catering, retail and leisure facilities as well as making stops around the air stations on request.
The introduction of the vehicles forms part of Sodexo's efforts to reduce its carbon footprint as part of its sustainability strategy to 2020, the Better Tomorrow Plan, and is in line with the Ministry of Defence's own environmental policies.
Sodexo Defence, which provides high-quality support services on military bases, currently operates a mixed fleet of more than 200 vehicles around the UK and is introducing electric vehicles to help protect the environment, reduce costs and provide a better service to its customers.
Last year, Sodexo Defence took delivery of its first eight electric utility vehicles for cleaning and laundry services.
Trials at Aldershot Garrison and the Defence School of Transport last year showed that replacing traditional diesel-powered vehicles with electric equivalents saw a 90% reduction in diesel costs; carbon emissions were reduced to zero; maintenance costs were more than halved and significant savings were made on both road tax and insurance costs; and exhaust fumes were eliminated from the clients' premises.
The new electric retail vehicles were handed over to Sodexo Defence logistics director Phil Carter at RNAS Yeovilton by Goupil's export area manager for the UK, Ireland and Scandinavia, Yassine Kerroumi.
Carter, who is leading the move to electric vehicles for Sodexo Defence, said: "I am delighted by the enthusiastic reception that the electric vehicles have received. They offer huge savings in both cost to the business and to the environment and our clients are delighted with them."
By Janie Manzoori-Stamford
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