Greater Manchester hospitals first to get fully electric vehicles
14.06.2022 - 16:07
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
An NHS trust which runs hospitals and other health services in Oldham, Bury, Rochdale and Salford is now the first to have fully electric trucks in its fleet. The Northern Care Alliance (NCA) is taking part in a year-long trial which will see two fully electric heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) used by the NHS group.
The state-of-the-art DAF LF Electric 19-tonne HGVs, built by Leyland Trucks, will be used to transport essential supplies, equipment and laundry between Salford Royal, Fairfield General, Royal Oldham and Rochdale Infirmary. The NCA, which has a target of net zero carbon emissions by 2040, is the first NHS organisation in the country to take part in the government-funded trial.
NCA chief executive Dr Owen Williams OBE said: "We’re incredibly excited to be part of this pilot to try new things and discover what these technologies can do for us, as well as move us away from high levels of emissions being brought through our sites and neighbouring communities every day, towards a much cleaner, greener solution that will benefit not only our patients but our staff, visitors and local communities too. It’s not just the environmental impact that matters, these plans, technologies and trials work to deliver improved patient care, save lives, improve lives, and reduce costs and waste."
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The pilot, which started in April, will trial some of the first technology that will help to shape the use of battery electric vehicles in commercial transport, paving the way for more greener vehicles across the country in future. The trucks are fitted with data logging equipment to help gather information about the best use for the new transport