It’s not nearly as luxurious as the other vehicles in its line-up, but BMW’s new electric HGV promises to be one of the cleanest car delivery trucks in the world when it takes to the roads this summer.
The 40-ton electric truck will drive between the logistics company SCHERM and the BMW plant in Munich eight times a day. BMW will become the first car maker in Germany to use an electric truck of this size to transport materials on public roads.
Thanks to its alternative drive train, the truck is quiet, emissions-free in traffic and generates virtually no particle pollution for the environment. The electric HGV will generate 11.8 tons less CO2 per year than an equivalent diesel-powered lorry.
City cyclists will welcome the excellent driver visibility offered by BMW’s electric lorry, but the design of most hevey lorries presents real danger to vulnerable road users.
The best single piece of advice for cyclists in towns and cities is to be hyper aware of lorries at junctions and give them a wide berth whenever possible. It’s an example of the defensive riding that can help keep you safe, but why should the onus so often be on vulnerable road users?
Until we have the high quality infrastructure, road policing and legal framework to transform streets into places designed for people rather than motorised traffic, surely there should at the very least be mandatory safety equipment standards for the Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) that operate on our roads to benefit cyclists and pedestrians.
Transport for London is proposing a ban on all vehicles over 3.5 tons, that are not fitted with side guards and extended view mirrors, from driving in London from early 2015. They estimate that if the ban were to be introduced, between three and seven cyclist and pedestrian fatalities would be prevented over a five-year period. In addition, between one and five serious cyclist and pedestrian casualties would be prevented.
At present, heavy good vehicles (HGVs/lorries) are over represented in fatal collisions involving cyclists and pedestrians. In 2013, HGVs were involved in nine out of fourteen incidents in London leading to cyclist fatalities.
At present, British law requires most HGVs to be fitted with side guards and extended view mirrors. However, certain HGVs, including construction vehicles are currently exempt from national regulations requiring side guards. Older HGVs are currently exempt from national regulations requiring mirrors.
Transport for London (TfL) and London Councils want to prohibit HGVs over 3.5 tons that are not fitted with the correct side-guards and safety mirrors from driving in London.
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