Mitie has launched the UK’s first zero emission gritting service for commercial use.
The contractor has used an electric gritter for the service with sustainable white marine salt. The zero emission gritter is an 100% electric vehicle with a battery-powered gritter attached.
Both the EV itself and the vehicle-mounted gritter are charged each day at the Mitie Landscapes office in Nottingham, which is powered by REGO-backed renewable energy to ensure zero-emissions across the operation.
The new service is being trialled in Nottingham with the gritter following a specially designed route in order to maximise the number of sites it can de-ice on a single charge.
Currently the gritter lasts around five hours between charges but as the trial continues Mitie will review how and where it is used to make the process more efficient. The firm intends to roll out the service to more cities ahead of winter 2021.
Mitie Landscapes designed the service to support customers looking to reduce their environmental impact. It also builds on Mitie’s own Plan Zero commitment to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2025 – including a commitment to 900 pure EVs in its current fleet with 25 more delivered each week.
Tim Howell, managing director, Landscapes, Mitie, said: “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 to help our customers keep their sites safe, while minimising their impact on the planet.”
Image courtesy of Mitie.
