ELECTRIC VANS

In office environments, once should opt to use email instead of paper memos. Also encourage the sharing of various documents and files via cloud instead of printing to help reduce paper consumption.

Waste Separation

In the coming weeks we’ll be seeing the introduction of new legislation in Malta relating to mandatory and obligatory separation of waste for households and commercial establishments. We too need to adhere to this law, so we do encourage you to follow the signs on the bins and

CHRIS BORG CARDONA, HEAD OF LOGISTICS

Farsons is actively seeking ways to reduce its carbon footprint. Last summer Farsons embarked on a three-month pilot project, together with the Foundation for Transport and the Malta Road Safety Council, to measure the impact of introducting electric vehicles into the day-to-day logistics operations and their overall costs.

The outcome of this project was critical to our plan regarding our future carbon footprint requirements. Even though we had already successfully introduced electric passenger cars, our main concern in distribution was how could electric commercial vehicles that are loaded with goods to be delivered to multiple delivery drops use energy somewhat differently. This meant that planning the delivery routes, based on range and payload per battery charge, was quite challenging.

For this project, an Electric Peugeot Expert Panel Van was made available by Michael Attard Ltd. This vehicle is smaller in size and capacity than the ones we currently use. We opted for this vehicle for the distribution of CO2 cylinders. to separate as much as possible. Before disposing of an item make sure that you’re putting it in the right bin. We will shortly be changing the bins around the offices to make it easier for employees to sort so we also urge everyone to do their part.

While we were evaluating the battery range, it became evident that driver behaviour affected the amount of energy consumed. Learning how to read the road ahead and observing other drivers’ behaviour allows a driver to reduce excessive acceleration and braking, all of which have an impact on energy consumption and increase regenerative braking. It resulted that drivers with no previous training returned to the factory after a day of deliveries with around 35% remaining charge, while trained drivers returned with as much as 60%.

When it came to calculating the energy cost for the threemonth long project, we collected daily data related to the payload, the distances covered, and the units used for charging the vehicle’s battery. From these we arrived at the cost of the energy used by this vehicle. Based on our analysis, the cost per kilometre of this electric van is 67% cheaper than that of a diesel panel van of the same type and size, and carrying the same payload.

Below you can also have a look at what goes where, to help you sort better.

If altogether we stick to the above practices we will be surely moving forward towards a better environment. Every little bit from each one of us helps, so please don’t underestimate your input in all this

The drivers’ experience using the electric van was very positive too. Electric vehicles are virtually silent because there is no changing gear as all the driver has to do is to just press the accelerator to go, while to stop the vehicle all the driver needs to do is to push the brake or simply lift the foot off the accelerator. During this coming year, we will see further investment in new trucks. The aim is to complete the upgrading of the fleet to the latest emission standards. However, following the positive experience in the pilot project, we will also be considering electric trucks, when available. Currently the size and type of trucks that we use for deliveries are not available yet on the Maltese market, but we could be having the first electric distribution truck by mid-2024.