Committing to Sustainability – Selco Invests in Electric Fleet 

It’s 2022 and if there’s one thing we can count on, it’s the fact that sustainability is weighing heavily on everyone’s mind. So much so that Selco, the Nation’s favourite self-select Trade only Builders Warehouse, is renewing its commitment to a sustainable work practice by investing in electric forklifts for their fleets. 

Selco, the Builders Warehouse with over 125 years of experience, are moving towards a sustainable transport fleet by adding 12 electrically powered counterbalance forklift trucks. 

Speaking of the company’s latest investment, Richard Evans, Head of Transport Operations at Selco, comments: 

“We have been clear about our commitments around sustainability, and we are now making swift and sizeable progress in terms of reducing our carbon footprint within the transport fleet. The introduction of our first electric forklift truck is another milestone we are very proud of and we are now beginning the process of transferring our entire forklift truck fleet of over 300 to electric.” 

However, Selco are exploring a number of sustainable options that go beyond electric vehicles, and the company’s sustainability programme also includes the use of alternative fuels such as Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) in the fleet. 

For anyone not familiar with it, HVO is a biofuel made by the hydrocracking or hydrogenation of vegetable oil, and these methods are then used to create substitutes for the more traditional fuels, such as gasoline and diesel. 

To add to that, there are also plans to add three additional Compressed Natural Gas vehicles to the Birmingham delivery hub, with the overall goal of ensuring all vehicles at both the Birmingham and Edmonton hubs are a combination of CNG and HVO fuelled vehicles. 

At the time of writing, the electric forklift trucks are being used in Exeter, as well as Walthamstow and other locations throughout the extensive network. 

Richard continues: 

“That transition will take a period of time but every new branch we open moving forward will have electric forklift trucks. HVO will play a huge role in businesses that operate commercial fleets reducing their carbon footprint in a responsible and efficient way and we are delighted to be stepping up our commitment to alternative fuel.” 

What are your thoughts on electric fleets? Is it an investment made to last? Get in touch in the comments below and let us know.