Local business gives a green option a shot
Electric vehicles have been available for years but the lack of infrastructure to support them as well as their previous lack of ability to go as far as a tank of gas on one charge have meant that they haven’t yet taken over the automotive market. However, with improvements coming with every new model and more charging options available in the province, Red River Messenger decided that now was a good time to give one a shot to see if it would work for their business.
Red River Messenger is a local delivery business that started in Selkirk. They have expanded to Winnipeg and more rural areas of Manitoba and do envelope delivery service as well as delivering larger items. With multiple runs a day, they are able to offer same-day delivery.
They purchased their new electric delivery vehicle in May.
“We had it for a month and [our Fleet Maintenance Supervisor, Kevin Galaugher] drove it for a bit. Kevin drove it to and from and around to make sure that we knew what kind of mileage it gets so that we knew what kind of run to put it on. We have drivers that just solely stay in Winnipeg and then we have the drivers that run back and forth the Selkirk,” explained Red River Messenger President Darryl Kruk.
The reason for this testing was because they wanted to make sure that their driver didn’t have to return to charge and risk a late arrival of a delivery.
“We figured out that this truck should suffice doing a run in the morning [to Winnipeg] coming up by lunch and going back in and coming back, all in one charge,” said Kruk.
The vehicle is a Ford E-Transit and residents may see it around town as Red River Messenger has gotten special decals on the outside of the vehicle.
Kruk says that they do have to be conscious not to send their driver to every corner of the city but that this option has worked so far.
“It’s basically your standard 250 van. It can carry just shy of ¾ tonne for cargo, I think about 1700 pounds if we needed to,” he said.
Kruk says that the range is about 250 km but he says it also depends on where you are driving and the speeds that you are going.
Something that’s interesting about this electric vehicle’s braking is that it actually charges it a bit.
“It does reclaim energy as it stops rather than using friction braking and wasting that as heat. You’re using an electric motor to push it forward and then using the electric motor to slow you down so it takes that energy and puts it back in the battery,” said Kruk.
Galaugher had been personally driving an electric vehicle for many years and was interested in giving a vehicle like this a shot and Kruk says that even though the vehicle cost more than a gas-powered equivalent it seemed to make sense for them to give it a try because of the energy saving potential and lesser maintenance.
As far as affecting the business’s carbon footprint, they estimate that the route before would have burned about 45 litres of gas and since Selkirk’s electricity is hydroelectric it has made an impact.
Kurk says that so far the driver is enjoying the experience but the true test of whether this vehicle makes sense for them will come in a few month’s time.
“The true test will be in the winter because from all indications they said that the kilometres should drop from what I’ve been told but I haven’t found that out myself,” said Kruk.
He says he can’t yet recommend this option to other businesses but that it’s something that they are interested in continuing with.
“I’m trying to do our part. I’m trying to lower our carbon footprint and this is my way of trying to try for the first time,” he said.
