Traffic management and specialist vehicle supplier Blakedale has added additional 3.5-tonne Impact Protection Vehicles (IPVs) and a range of electric vehicles to its hire fleet to cater for evolving highways industry needs.

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The 3.5-tonne IPVs were developed for use in inner-city roadwork environments and can be fitted to most 3.5-tonne LCV chassis cabs. The lightweight design incorporates a crash cushion capable of dealing with collision speeds up to 43mph.

Blakedale has also added 4.25-tonne Ford E-Transit traffic management vehicles to its 700-strong fleet, built to a high specification and fitted with either a tail-lift or an LP13 light board.

These offer 196 miles of range and 1.4 tonnes of payload, and are available as demonstrators for evaluation as part of customers’ electrification journey. They have already been evaluated by several traffic management providers to help them understand how EVs can fit into their fleet mix.

The E-Transits are believed to be the first 4.25-tonne EVs designed and built in traffic management specification.

Blakedale, acquired by Northgate in July 2022, continues to invest in its near 700-strong hire fleet as part of its Drive to Zero initiative. This forms part of Northgate’s group-wide initiative of providing customers with a full suite of solutions that support their transition towards zero emissions.

Blakedale’s EV expansion also includes traffic management specification Renault Kangoo E-Tech and Mercedes eVito vans that have a range of approximately 185 miles.

It has also added some VW ID.3s to its traffic safety cars hire fleet, which also include petrol, diesel and hybrid powertrains.

Blakedale’s MD Jon Taylor said: “The traffic management sector has responded very positively to the EVs we have added to our fleet. Many companies are curious as to how EVs can be accommodated in their current fleet and what better way than being able to evaluate them for a few weeks before making a long-term commitment.

“The Kangoo E-Tech, E-Transit and Traffic Safety Cars cover off most operators’ needs at the lighter end of the weight range while we continue to look into the best options for customers to reduce their emissions at 18 tonnes,” he added.

Blakedale is also in the process of reducing its own inhouse emissions; 50% of its company car fleet is now electric and the rest hybrid and it’s also onboarded two electric vans to its nationwide mobile service fleet.