1st March 2010

HERMES TRIALS FUEL SAVING TECHNOLOGY AS PART OF EFFICIENCY INITIATIVE

Hermes has taken delivery of two commercial vehicles featuring Bevan21 bodies as part of an ongoing initiative to achieve operating efficiencies and minimise the environmental impact of its fleet. Hermes will trial the streamlined aerodynamic bodies, capable of making fuel savings of more than 15 per cent, to measure their effectiveness with a view to using them on a further 18 vehicles currently on order.

Commenting, Carole Woodhead, CEO of Hermes in the UK said: "We are committed to utilising emissions saving technology such as the Bevan21 bodies to meet our target of reducing the company's carbon footprint by 50 per cent by 2020. Any investment needs to make sound business and environmental sense, so we are looking for solutions that can deliver green benefits along with operational savings."

The Bevan21 bodies, fitted to a 7.5-and 12-tonne chassis, incorporate advanced aerodynamic styling to reduce wind slip resistance, whilst maintaining the internal cubic volume. The design incorporates a range of innovative aerodynamic features including a curved roof, specially moulded air deflector and cab collar.

The vehicles are amongst 28 vans acquired on six-year contract hire agreements from Ryder as part of Hermes fleet replacement programme, and are some of the first to feature the myHermes branding. The Bevan21 bodies will undergo full testing within the company's radial van fleet, which is responsible for deliveries between regional depots, sub depots and local couriers.

Bevan Group Managing Director Anthony Bevan added: "As well as improving fuel economy and so helping to reduce the operator's carbon footprint, its striking design means the Bevan 21 is also a real eye-catcher on the road. We have been very encouraged by the uptake for our new, aerodynamic rigid truck body and I am confident that the trials, which Hermes has now embarked upon will confirm its environment-friendly credentials."

"We have been supplying trucks to Hermes for a number of years and have proactively worked with the company to develop new vehicle specifications that push the boundaries of energy efficiency and environmental parameters," comments David Hunt, Ryder's Vice President and Managing Director. "During the past year we've successfully supplied a number of trucks with aerodynamic bodies to fleets across the UK and so we had no hesitation in recommending such innovative vehicles to Hermes."

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