Our HGV fleet has just got greener with the arrival of four new vehicles, following the delivery of two others back in October last year.
All six new trucks are diesel-fuelled, 18-ton, twin-axle, curtain-sided Scanias boasting the latest Euro 6 compliant engines, which means their exhaust emissions are as environmentally friendly as possible.
Ever since 1992, new vehicles have had to meet a certain Euro emissions standard when they are made, as part of the global challenge to improve air quality. As the name suggests, Euro 6 is the sixth - and latest - directive to help reduce the level of harmful pollutants produced by vehicles powered diesel and petrol engines, and hybrids using petrol or diesel alongside an electric power unit.
We normally replace two of our 20-strong HGV fleet each year, but we originally decided to go ahead and buy six - a total investment of approximately £750,000 - because of the financial implications of the proposed Greater Manchester Clean Air Zone for vehicles not meeting Euro 6 standards.
Director Andy Evans, our fleet decision-maker, explains: "We took the decision because any vehicles that were not Euro 6 compliant would have incurred a charge the minute they left our premises. Even though the Clean Air Zone is on hold, we've decided to go ahead and replace six of our non-Euro 6 vehicles anyway because we think taking responsibility for the air quality in the environment is the right thing to do."
The six new vehicles have gone straight into service, primarily delivering to areas where clean air zones are already in operation as they don't incur emissions charges.
The Greater Manchester CAZ was originally scheduled to launch in May this year, operating seven days a week, 24 hours a day. It is now on hold with no indication when a new scheme might launch.