Since this week, the logistics department has two new trucks for transporting goods on and off campus available. One of them is a fully electric Renault Master. Berjan Nijzink, logistics coordinator, and Herman Kuiper, logistics team leader, are pleased: "The new trucks enable us to keep our service level up. It’s great that we can do that as sustainably as possible."
Inconspicuous and vital
It is often inconspicuous, but vital work: the transportation of goods between buildings on and off campus by the Logistics Department keeps the UT's research and education going. "We drive all kinds of things around: from equipment for emergency response exercises to research supplies, from materials for the Gogbot festival in the city centre of Enschede to packages ordered by UT staff," says Kuiper. Until now, the Logistics Department had one truck at its disposal, but that was no longer sufficient. "In recent years, the number of incoming parcels has grown steadily. For 2022, we expect a further increase of about 20% in the number of parcels that we deliver all over campus. Other transport movements have also increased in recent years. This has put pressure on our service. An additional truck was therefore necessary, while the old one was also due for replacement."
Sustainable organisation
The purchase of an electric truck is in line with the UT's ambition to become a sustainable organisation. However, the second truck is a diesel one, a Volvo FL. Kuiper: "That is a larger truck, which we need regularly. Unfortunately, it was not feasible to purchase an electric model: that would have cost fundreds of thousands euro extra, not to mention the necessary infrastructure such as a charging station with more power. However, it is a modern truck that meets the current Euro 6 standard, and is therefore much cleaner than the old one. Wherever possible we drive the electric truck, so it certainly makes a difference in terms of emissions."
Both trucks have been deployed immediately, but will be provided with wrapping in UT style.
