ACCRINGTON based Bensons for Beds has rolled out a new fleet of electric vehicles and unveiled a new special offer.

The new e-vans will be used to deliver mattresses to customers, with the company hoping that these environmentally friendly vehicles will eventually phase out all its petrol and diesel vehicles as part of a plan to become a zero emissions firm within the next 20 years.

The company is also offering a 10 per cent discount on Rollo mattresses for customers who pick them up from local stores in a hybrid or electric car.

Bensons for Beds chief operating officer Joe Wykes said: “This is another landmark on the route to Bensons becoming a net zero retailer.

“The pilot scheme will let us know how to get the best out of the e-van and deliver great service to our customers.

“While our customers are recharging their batteries on their new Rollo mattress, they can sleep easy knowing that Bensons is making a positive contribution to cutting emissions to help the planet.

“Our ambition is to replace our existing vehicles with an all-electric fleet covering the whole country.”

Bensons is using the Maxus E Deliver 3, built by SAIC, with a payload of 905kg and capable of carrying eight to ten mattresses.

The van has an average city range of 213 miles on a full charge.

The company will be piloting the e-vans at its Dagenham distribution centre, which will deliver to customers in London, Kent, Cambridge, Essex and Milton Keynes.

If this proves to be successful, then Bensons will proceed to upgrade its entire 200 strong fleet of vehicles across the country to e-vans.

As part of its environmental commitments, Bensons is also supplying Silentnight’s new eco range of mattresses, which contain eco comfort fibres made from recycled plastic bottles and says it is working to incorporate more chemical treatment-free fabrics and new filings, produced using less CO2, water, and land use, into its new ranges this year.

Trailing the new vans is part of a longer-term transformation that the company is undergoing following a £25 million refinancing deal in June.

To find out more, go to: www.bensonsforbeds.co.uk.