E M Pell & Partners’ message to established and potential customers, as well as to society in general, is that where environmental compatibility and compliance are concerned it will not be found wanting.

Established in 1999 by Managing Director Michael Pell, E M Pell & Partners operates from a base in Daventry and also undertakes arboricultural works, vegetation management, and asset surveys and maintenance across its home and neighbouring counties.

The eVito, which produces zero tailpipe emissions, arrived via the Wellingborough headquarters of Mercedes-Benz Dealer Intercounty Truck & Van. It is one of three electric vans now in service with E M Pell & Partners, which runs more than 40 vehicles in total.

The company’s biggest clients are local authorities, and it is highly focused on compliance.  Its list of accreditations includes ISO 14001, an international standard that specifies requirements for an effective environmental management system.

Driving force

E M Pell & Partners co-Directors Michael and Belinda Pell, with their new Mercedes-Benz eVito

Michael Pell explained: “We take great pride not only in the quality of our work, and in our stringent health & safety management policies, but also in our sensitivity to the environments in which we operate.

“The significant investments this company has been making in the eVito and in other battery-powered vehicles and tools, reflects our determination to do everything possible to reduce our carbon footprint. To this end, all new vans we acquire will now be electric, and we have set ourselves the target of moving to an entirely emissions-free fleet by 2030.”

Working alongside Mr Pell in the business are his wife and co-Director Belinda, and their daughters Sophie and Hannah. The eVito, meanwhile, is assigned to Operations Manager and family friend Tim Cheney, who visits sites to monitor progress and deliver or collect tools and materials.

The vehicle is smartly signwritten, with a distinctive ‘e’ and plug logo designed by Mr Pell promoting its electric driveline, and with red and yellow Chapter 8 highways management chevrons over the back doors. It also has sliding load doors on both sides, providing easy access to up to 6.0m3 of cargo area – the 41 kWh battery is securely mounted in a protective housing beneath the floor, so does not impinge on the available space.

As a long L2 PURE variant, the van has a gross weight of 3.2 tonnes and offers a payload allowance of 905 kg. The eVito PURE also comes in extra-long L3 form, with a 6.6m3 load volume and 898 kg carrying capacity. Meanwhile, eVito versions with the PROGRESSIVE trimline benefit from extra features, both internally and externally, but incur corresponding slight payload reductions.

The three-seat eVito offers an average range of 92 miles. E M Pell & Partners has installed an AC fast charging point outside its head office, which is capable of restoring the batteries to full capacity in approximately six hours. Charging typically takes place overnight, so the vehicle is ‘ready to roll’ each morning.

Observed Mr Pell: “The eVito ticks a lot of boxes. It’s the perfect size for the job, and beautifully smooth and comfortable, so a real pleasure to drive. This, of course, is only to be expected given that it’s a Mercedes-Benz.

“Tim can toggle between four recuperation modes to recover energy on the move, and on cold mornings appreciates the pre-conditioning climate control, which also allows him to adjust the temperature remotely and warm the vehicle while it charges, thereby conserving battery life.

“The three-pointed star can only reinforce our company’s image and reputation for quality and innovation. Plus, we have the added reassurance of emergency roadside assistance, which is included within the manufacturer’s free MobiloVan cover – chances are we’ll never need it, but it’s great to know it’s there.”

www.empell.co.uk