Mitie Landscapes has launched the UK’s first zero emission commercial gritting service by deploying an electric vehicle and battery-powered gritter.
Operating in Nottingham, the EV, as well as the vehicle-mounted gritter, are charged each day at the company’s office in the city which is powered by REGO-backed renewable energy to ensure a truly zero emission service.
The new service is currently being trialled, with the gritter following a specially designed route around the city, including supermarkets and the tram network, in order to maximise the number of sites it can de-ice on one charge. While the gritter currently lasts around five hours between charging, as the trial continues Mitie will review how and where it is used to make the process more efficient, before rolling out to more cities ahead of winter 2021.
Mitie Landscapes designed the zero emission electric gritting service to support customers looking to reduce their environmental impact, particularly those in high-pollution areas, such as cities. It also builds on the company’s Plan Zero commitment to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2025, whilst supporting customers in reaching their own sustainability targets.
Tim Howell, managing director, comments: “When people think about cutting carbon emissions, gritting may not seem an obvious place to start. However, to be truly sustainable, businesses need to consider every aspect of their operations.
“We’re proud to be launching the UK’s first zero emission gritting service in Nottingham to help our customers keep their sites safe, while minimising their impact on the planet.”
