An Essex-based courier company is planning to go green after trialling some electric vans which were on display at the Basildon Green Market Place last week.
Managing Director at Abby Couriers, Mark Giles, said: "The Basildon Green Market Place was organised by Basildon Green Business Forum and was a fantastic event with a wide range of environmentally efficient products and services on display to help businesses cut costs and also be 'green' in their business practices.
"Abby Couriers has utilised the free advice service offered by Basildon Green Business Forum and reduced our energy and other costs significantly as a result without affecting our business efficiency.
"One area we have been looking at is using electric vehicles on some of our routes and we were able to field test some vehicles manufactured by Goupil Industrie which is one of the leading European manufacturers of electric powered commercial vehicles.
"We have had one of their vehicles on trial with our Vauxhall depot in London and it has proved very popular with our drivers who have enjoyed its speed, comfort and manoeuvrability as well as proving popular with our managers who appreciate the reduction in fuel costs, its capacity and reliability.
"We are now looking at the best way forward to add some electric vehicles to our fleet - the cost is not cheap at £27,000 per vehicle but we think the long term benefits in terms of efficiency improvements for our business plus the environmental benefits will outweigh that additional cost."
Founded in 1994 Abby Couriers is a family run firm with a Head Office in Luckyn Lane, Basildon and offices at Welwyn Garden City.
With almost 200 staff the firm has more than 175 drivers on the road providing Same Day Delivery Services across the United Kingdom and Europe for key clients who include DHL, FEDEX and TNT.
Abby Couriers is a member of the National Courier Association, the Federation of Small Businesses and Essex Chambers of Commerce.