Accord chooses Modec for TFL contract

Accord MP has purchased 10 Modec electric vans for use on a six-year highway maintenance contract with Transport for London (TfL). The first nine Modecs on its fleet are all dropsides, but they are about to be joined by a box-van version.

"So far the Modecs have been a great success," says Darren Tiwari, fleet manager for the TfL contract. He explains that electric vans are perfect for this type of application, because they travel short distances and spend much of the day on location.

Although the vans were purchased for their green attributes, Accord MP is discovering there are significant economic benefits to operating an electric vehicle fleet. Tiwari explains that not only are they exempt from road tax and the London Congestion Charge, but they make more financial sense every time the price of diesel increases.

Accord MP employee Barry Moore has been driving a Modec on and off for the past year, and rates it highly. He praises the central rear door, which means he doesn't have to "step out into a live [road] lane". Visibility through the goldfish-bowl-type windscreen is class-leading and Moore also rates the roof-mounted mirrors highly.

Moore says the Modec attracts a lot of attention wherever it goes, and during our morning in the passenger seat we couldn't help but notice the inquisitive looks we received from pedestrians and fellow motorists. It looks like nothing else on the road, which is perfect for companies wanting to be seen to be green. "At the end of the day
it's just a tool," says Moore, "and not a bad tool at that."

Will Shiers
Email at will.shiers@rbi.co.uk
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