Worcester Goes Mega Electric

Worcester City Council has joined the growing number of local authorities opting for the Mega as the vehicle of choice for their estates and cleansing departments. The City Council’s Environment Services department has purchased two electric Mega as a first step towards a cleaner city and a greener fleet.

The 3-year old handcarts that the Megas are replacing had been viewed as a drawback to efficiency, as until now operators had walk two or three times a day from city centre locations to the town depot to unload. The new vans mean that they can extend their activity radius and spend more time keeping the city centre litter-free.

"Being amazingly compact and extremely manoeuvrable with a 3.9 metre turning radius, the Megas can come and go pretty much anywhere. Whilst being able to stay dry and warm has already been appreciated by the operators!" commented Malcolm Cox, Operations Manager of Worcester City Environmental Services.

Officially unveiling the two newcomers, Worcester City’s cabinet member for keeping the City ‘clean, green and safe’, Derek Prodger MBE, applauded the decision to go for environmentally-friendly battery-powered versions when diesel and petrol models are also available. "It is a clear case of leading by example. Ours is a duty to protect the environment and that is our clear priority. We hope too that people will take heed of our initiative in using the vans to deliver our anti-litter message."

Peter Leivers, general manager of Mega supplier, Aixam Mega Ltd said, "This is the ideal type of operation for the electric Mega, it is clean, quiet, and emission free in operation, just what is needed in a busy city centre environment."

The Mega vans join the city’s anti-litter campaign and will be seen patrolling the city centre keeping the newly pedestrianised city centre neat and trim. The electric vehicles operate quietly, so minimise disturbance to pedestrians and residents alike.

The electric Mega vans are capable of delivering speeds up to 40 mph from twelve 48v lead-gel batteries, and are expected to be in operation for up to 10 hours a day, seven days a week. The technologically advanced battery system utilised in the Mega means that the vehicle is not as susceptible to battery problems as some other electric vehicles.

The Mega is available in a range of body styles, in left or right hand drive, and with a diesel or electric power source.