The Citroën Relay’s combination of environmental and operational benefits has convinced EAE Ltd to convert its 21-strong fleet of large vans. The Edinburgh based company has initially ordered four Relay 35 L3H2 and three Relay 30 L1H1 100 panel vans with a similar number scheduled for delivery next year.

EAE distributes display stands, tourist information leaflets and other promotional material to some 5,000 locations in Scotland. The company required vans offering high payloads and large internal load volumes - the ‘holy grail’ in the large panel van market. The class-leading Citroën Relay not only met these operational requirements, but also EAE’s tough environmental parameters. With its excellent fuel economy and the ability to run on up to 30% bio-diesel, without technical modification or invalidating the manufacturer’s warranty, the Relay was the obvious choice.
Glen Bennett, EAE’s Managing Director, said; “Citroen was the only manufacturer to cover high levels of bio-diesel usage under warranty. EAE is committed to reducing its carbon footprint and using 30%bio-diesel will reduce the Relay’s annual CO2 emissions by around 3.8 tonnes per vehicle. This is a significant reduction and will play a key role in our move to achieve carbon-neutral operational status by 2015.”
EAE has installed a 5,000 litre tank to bunker its bio-diesel. As part of its CO2 reduction programme, all EAE drivers have benefitted from eco-driving training, which alone has seen a 15% improvement in fuel economy. With their standard specification Trafficmaster Smartnav satellite navigation, the Citroën Relays also provide EAE with additional fuel savings and other cost-reduction benefits thanks to improvements in productivity through congestion avoidance and more efficient routeing.

Specifying Citroën Relay vans running on 30% bio-diesel is only part of EAE’s ambitious target of being carbon-neutral by 2015. Halfway through its 10 year programme, the company has already cut CO2 emissions by 60% - despite turnover near-doubling in the period. A wind turbine produces half the electricity for EAE’s main warehouse, while opening 13 local storage depots has reduced van journeys by 4,000 miles per month. In addition, EAE has changed its Edinburgh distribution arrangements to include staff using bicycles, electric vans and a poster team, which travels by bus with company-supplied bus passes.

“Our new Citroën Relay vans will enable the company to make the next major step towards its objective of carbon-neutral operation. As a distribution company we have to strive to be carbon neutral and to apply fresh thinking to the project. We are pleased that Citroën can supply vans that can run on 30% bio-diesel and cover them with the factory warranty, which has enabled us to take this next major carbon reduction step,” explains Glen Bennett.

Scott Michael, Citroën’s commercial vehicle operations manager commented; “We are pleased that EAE, an environmental award-winning distribution company, has been able to harness the key aspects of our award-winning LCV range by choosing the Citroën Relay. It is the only LCV in its sector to be supplied, as standard, with the ability to operate on up to 30% European Standard bio-diesel without affecting the manufacturer warranty, as well as the Trafficmaster Smartnav satellite navigation system. It also offers some of the highest load volumes and payloads in its class.”