Maidstone Borough Council has added two all-electric Iveco eDaily beavertail vans to its Environmental Services fleet, using them for transporting ride-on mowers and equipment for grounds maintenance across the Kent borough.
Based on the 42C14e chassis, the 4.25-tonne vans use a two-battery configuration to offer a claimed range of up to 124 miles and 140hp from the electric motor. Early data from the council suggests the switch to electric has already prevented more than two tonnes of CO₂ emissions from entering the atmosphere.
The beavertail bodies were developed by AFKS Specialist Vehicles Engineering, who worked with local dealer Haynes Trucks and the council to tailor the design for regular use in parks, roadside verges, and public green spaces. The rear platform is sprung and finished with an anti-slip surface, aiding safer loading and unloading of large garden machinery. Tool pods sit behind the cab for secure storage of landscaping gear and spare fuel, while narrow rear light clusters are mounted on the chassis for better protection from damage.
Driver comfort hasn’t been overlooked either. Both vehicles feature a suspended seat adapted from Iveco’s truck range, along with heated electric mirrors, automatic headlights and wipers — all useful when heading out early in winter.
Haynes Trucks supplied the eDaily vans and will also deliver several eDaily caged tippers to the council in the coming months. Each vehicle is backed by Iveco’s eight-year or 155,000-mile battery warranty, and a six-year extended vehicle warranty.
“Like many councils around the country, Maidstone Borough Council is exploring ways to reduce its carbon emissions across various sectors, especially those that involve transport and vehicles,” said Councillor Clive English, cabinet member at Maidstone Borough Council. “These new Iveco eDaily have exceeded all expectations and have allowed us to continue providing services to our community with lower carbon emissions than ever before.”
“The Iveco eDaily has been meticulously perfected since its inception to deliver a performance that rivals its diesel counterpart,” added Mike Cutts, business line director for Iveco UK and Ireland. “It’s great to see these vehicles delivering a zero-emission solution without compromise for Maidstone Borough Council.”
The council’s deployment reflects a growing trend among public sector fleets seeking practical EVs that can handle high payloads and specialist conversions. With a range of body types and power configurations, the eDaily is carving out a niche as one of the more versatile electric offerings in the 3.5 to 7.2-tonne segment.
