4Hire adds electric Hinowa to ecofleet

UK rental company 4Hire has taken delivery of another Hinowa electric spider platform, as part of plans to grow its zero-emissions “Ecofleet” fleet.

4Hire’s new Hinowa Lightlift 15.70 is the latest addition to the company’s Ecofleet

The new Lightlift 15.70 Performance IIIS, which was supplied by Hinowa’s UK & Ireland distributor Access Platform Sales, features a maximum working height of 15.4m and an outreach of 6.6m. Equipped with a 230kg basket, the tracked model is the second of its kind acquired by the company.

Based in Jersey – the largest of the UK’s Channel Islands – 4Hire’s second Lightlift 15.70 joins an access hire fleet comprising 50% electric and hybrid machines. The other half of the company’s fleet can be powered using hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), a renewable alternative that reduces emissions by up to 90%.

The rental firm’s commitment to environmentally friendly equipment is part of a sustainability strategy that is said to touch every part of its operations.

Nigel Blandin, the founder of 4Hire, said, “We’d been talking about improving sustainability. It’s always been a hobby horse of mine.

“So we made a decision to commit 100% to developing a sustainable business model and we would do all we could to persuade our customers to join us on the journey. And, so far, it is working.”

In line with its commitment to green operations, the firm has created a mini-website that visitors can use to find out how much carbon equivalent emissions they create by using equipment with conventional combustions engines.

The Hinowa Lightlift 15.70 Performance IIIS is a lithium battery powered machine with a transport width of just 750mm.

In addition to its low-emission access the fleet, the rental company has also invested in electric vans, electric dumpers, electric mini excavators, solar powered generators, and solar hybrid welfare units.

4Hire, which is part of GAP Group, also plans to install solar panels on the roof of its depot later year. These will be used to charge all its machines, the batteries of which will also be able to power the depot when there is less sunlight.

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