Braehead Shopping Centre near Glasgow has taken delivery of two heavy duty battery-powered utility trucks to replace a diesel-powered tractor and trailer.

The new trucks will be used by external maintenance and cleaning staff and one of the electric vehicles will be fitted with a custom-built trailer for transporting giant 1,100 litre bins around the shopping centre.

The trucks will also be used at Braehead Arena for transporting equipment used in events as diverse as ice hockey matches, WWE wrestling shows, Davis Cup tennis tournaments and pop concerts.

Braehead’s general manager Peter Beagley said: “Braehead has a huge commitment to the environment and making sure we reduce our carbon footprint as much as possible.

“Already we recycle most of our waste and have introduced major energy-saving measures in the centre. The move to all-electric trucks instead of a diesel tractor, which will reduce our CO2 emissions, is part of our commitment to operating a greener and more sustainable business.”

Supplied by electric vehicle experts ePower Trucks, both vehicles come with full winter maintenance packs, which include rear-mounted, electrically-powered gritters and hydraulically-powered snow ploughs fitted to the front.

Beagley added: “The electric trucks will also provide Braehead with our own snow ploughs and gritters to help us keep the car parks and roads around the centre and retail park clear of ice and snow during winter.

“So not only is the environment benefiting from Braehead investing in these electric trucks, but visitors to Braehead will also benefit with clearer paths, roadways and car parks during winter.”

The two-seater vehicles for Braehead have a range of up to 40 miles on a single charge and are fully road legal. The truck can tow up to 2,000kg and carry payloads of up to 600kg. The batteries can be fully recharged in eight hours and running costs are less than 5p per mile.

Jerry Hanss, managing director of ePower Trucks, said: “By investing in proven electric vehicle technology, Braehead Shopping Centre and Retail Park will benefit from durable, reliable trucks that are highly cost-effective and have a long, productive working life.”