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ESB NETWORKS LTD
June/July 2012 www.esb.ie/em
A find in the South of France
ESB Networks staff, Wilton supporting ElectricAid
COMBINED talent from ESB Networks colleagues in Metering, Meter Reading, Schedule Support Team Customer Care Team, DUOS Billing and Construction raised funds to support Fiona Corr as she volunteers her support for an Education Support Programme in an orphanage in Vietnam.
A hugely enjoyable table quiz held in Flannery's in April provided a rare opportunity of colleagues to chat, over delicious finger food and exchange some friendly banter during the 10 quiz rounds.
Many thanks to all who helped organise and take part and bon voyage to Fiona who will be heading off in the next few weeks to the Lotus Shelter, Ho Chi Min City working with How Charity.
Building up a fleet
Building up our Electric Vehicles (EV) fleet in ESB Networks
ESB HAS ALWAYS had a proud tradition in relation to pioneering the promotion of Electric Vehicles in Ireland. One of the earliest examples of this is the ‘Morrison’ van (Bread van type), (pictured above) which seemed to be mostly used by painters and other services involved in property maintenance in the 1960’s.
In the 70’s there were several vans in service, particularly the Bedford CF. The 80’s saw several larger vehicles enter service. The Dodge Electric delivery van Dublin Reg ZSI 188 (pictured below) is one that some will remember – the battery pack (on the under side of the truck) have come along way since then.
In February 2009, a new government transport policy document for Ireland (‘Smarter Travel A Sustainable Transport Future’) was developed for the period 2009-2020, to ensure a sustainable travel and transport policy for Ireland. Specifically targeted in this strategy is the government’s aim to ensure that electric vehicles make up 10% of the national transport fleet by 2020. Based on the current size of the national fleet, this would equate to around 230,000 electric vehicles by 2020.
As one of the largest fleets in Ireland with approximately 2,000 vehicles, ESB Networks Fleet and Equipment, needed to consider how it could develop a fleet, which could meet the demands of its business and also keep an eye on to future transport policy. With the establishment of ESB eCars in 2010 with the aim to roll out the charging infrastructure for electric cars across Ireland, and to support the introduction and demand for electric cars nationally, it became clear that ESB Networks needed to be an early mover in building a workable EV fleet. We have incorporated the target of achieving 10% Electric Fleet ahead of the government target.
By being an early mover, the Electric Vehicle (EV) technology is still in its infancy and so we have procured a varied fleet to trail over the coming years to identify the best EVs fit for our fleet. The last and newest of those vehicles going onto the fleet now is the first all electric hoist in Ireland.
John Seale, Fleet and Equipment Investment Manager says that this will “have a range of 100Klms, max speed 80 Klms / Hr and a recharge time of 6 / 8 hours. Cost of a full charge is approximately €8. The truck is also equipped with regenerative braking, when brakes are applied or when truck is on overrun, it recharges the traction battery pack. In addition there is a Versalift T 3100I Hoist driven by an electric motor powered from the truck traction battery pack”.
We have two of these hoists. They will be used in Cork (Wilton) and Dublin (South Lotts Road) and we expect them to be particularly suited to city work. They can work day or night in housing estates and city centre locations without any impositions on the customers due to no noise and emissions. There is an added safety advantage, because of no noise that operators can freely converse with work colleagues on the ground. It has the ability to recharge using the eCars on-street charging posts.
In total ESB Networks are trialling 45 Electric Vehicles and Hybrid Electric vehicles on its fleet in 16 ESB locations making this the biggest EV fleet in Ireland. They are made up of:
- Iveco Daily plug-in Hybrid Vans
- Mitsubishi Canter hybrid vehicles (Hoists & Lines Vehicles)
- Fiat Fiorino pure electric vans
- Peugeot Expert pure electric vans
- Peugeot Bipper pure electric vans
- Smiths Edison Transit pure electric vans and the
- Smiths Newton pure electric HGV fitted with Hoists (In total ESB have over 70 electric vehicles when you include eCars, Electric Ireland and those from a number of our Power Stations.)
ESB Networks fleet has to deal with a wide variety of work requirements from a travel (urban vs rural driving), size (van vs truck) and fit out (hoists, winches, on-call van etc.) perspective. Therefore before achieving the 10% target, it is important that these vehicles are put to work in the various environments so in time only the most appropriate Electric Vehicles are procured which meet both the business requirements and also Ireland’s sustainable objectives.
With two years experience now under our belt with some of the Electric Fleet and some 94,250 kms, there are clear work environments already identified where the Electric Vehicle is suited. Paul Cooper Network Technician from South Lotts, who is currently driving the electric Peugeot feels that “it is ideal for the city and because the vehicle is so easy to drive I don’t feel tired after my day’s work. I also get a lot of interest from the public about the vehicle”. Paul says that he gets 100 kilometres for a full battery charge (approx €3.60) and so he feels the vehicle is very economical and good for the environment.
Obviously, being early movers in this technology we have encountered some problems in terms of the suitability for some work areas and also teething problems with some makes. We are working well with the staff and vehicle manufactures and this learning will position ESB to have to have the best and most appropriate electric feet in time. In addition, the support from the business line staff during this trail period is very appreciated by Fleet and Equipment.
Separately to Electric Vehicles, we are also piloting Battery Packs for Auxiliary Power for our conventional hoist fleet and have had two on trial during 2011. This has the potential to reduce 2 hours per day of engine tick over/ idling and would result in reduced fuel consumption of approx 40 litres per week.
Network Technician Ian O’Connell based in Bandon describes the power pack “as excellent in use, there is no noise or exhaust fumes when carrying out our daily work and it is now the hoist of choice for all breakdown work because of this”. These are proving a good success and we will be retrofitting more hoists to increase the number of these on our fleet in 2012.
As already mentioned, other areas of ESB have also began to procure Electric Vehicles most notably eCars, Electric Ireland and some Power Stations. We have supported these organisations in terms of our expertise for the specification and procurement of the vehicles.
