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Dairy unveils electric truck ahead of major factory expansion
The debut of the new electric vehicle is the latest in a string of sustainability investments by the dairy firm which began with the opening of a new £20m factory on Mona Industrial Park this summer.
Managing director Ronald Akkerman said the introduction of the Volvo BEV HGV tractor and trailer combination will help the business on the road to achieving net zero status.
“We are proud to have been the first dairy in the UK to introduce the Volvo BEV HGV tractor and trailer combination, it’s the first step towards the complete decarbonisation of our transport,” said Akkerman.
First step to complete decarbonisation
“Electric trucks are much quieter for communities, for our drivers and for the farms that we collect milk from, which is especially important for night-time collections.
“The pumping system on our trailer is also electric, allowing for much faster and very quiet loading of milk on farm. The Welsh countryside is a perfect match for a BEV tractor unit, as it will recover a lot of energy from braking and converts it into the electrical power that charges the vehicle’s battery.”
The Mona Industrial Park dairy is already undergoing a multi-million-pound factory expansion. Akkerman said the investment will eventually see the business produce more than 30,000 tonnes of Welsh and continental cheese every year.
Sustainably supporting the community
Ynys Mon MP Virginia Crosbie, who was in attendance at the launch of the new vehicle, added: “Mona Dairy is one of the most forward-thinking businesses on Anglesey, creating jobs and supporting the local economy while being at the forefront of advances in agriculture and sustainable food production.
“This latest development and move towards decarbonisation of its milk collection fleet is another first for the UK. All this fits in with my priorities of attracting investment and jobs to Ynys Mon in these growing and key industries that will be underpinned by the island’s new freeport status.”
The vehicle will run for two weeks to prove the concept and results of the trial will enable Mona Dairy to inform the next steps of the project.
Meanwhile, Coca-Cola European Partners is to support the expansion of a local solar farm near its Wakefield soft drinks factory as part of a wider €250m investment in renewable energy.
