For many Britons, fresh milk delivered to their doorstep is an essential start to the day. By now, a delivery service for milk and other regional products has become a real trend on the island. The milkmen of Milk & More are now using 200 StreetScooters for their daily rounds. The company employs more than 2,000 drivers catering for more than 500,000 customers throughout Britain between 1 and 7 a.m.
The milk is transported in traditional glass bottles. But on the customer’s order papers one can also find other dairy products, beverages, and foodstuffs from sustainable production. “For our business, we need a local product portfolio and reliable, quiet, and environmentally friendly vehicles. The StreetScooter is the perfect vehicle for our requirements,” comments Patrick Müller, CEO at Milk & More, on the investment decision.
In addition to the range of up to 187 km (116 miles), Milk & More was also convinced by the payload capacity: the boxes can hold up to 8 m³ (283 cu. ft.) with a total payload of up to 905 kg. The battery delivers an output of 40 kW/h. In addition to the vehicles, StreetScooter also provided the British company with the charging infrastructure. Intelligent fleet control ensures that the e-transporters are loaded in the optimum order, which increases the availability of the fleet.
Patrick Müller says: “The StreetScooter is ideal in terms of the environmental and noise aspects, both for us and for our customers. They appreciate the fact that the electric transporters drive through the residential areas almost soundlessly in the early morning and without exhaust fumes.”
Milk & More found in the first months of use that the operating costs of the StreetScooter were up to 90 % lower than the diesel vehicles the company uses. Thanks to the modular design, StreetScooter users also save 60 to 70 % in maintenance and repair costs: The non-safety-critical parts of the chassis are made of solid-dyed woven plastic. This prevents rust, makes dents less susceptible, and considerably reduces garage visits.
The e-transporter, originally developed as a packet and mail delivery vehicle for Deutsche Post, really eases the workload for delivery staff. The driver’s cab is ergonomically designed. For example, the left side bolster of the driver’s seat has been omitted, making getting in and out of the vehicle more than 600 times a day much more comfortable. Despite Great Britain being a country with left-hand traffic, Milk & More insisted on having the drivers sit on the left in the StreetScooters. The reason for this is the increased safety and higher efficiency for the drivers due to them being able to load and unload on the sidewalk side.