HS2 is trialling a new electric telehandler

High-speed railway HS2 is trialing a new electric forklift on one of its major construction sites in London.

The Eco Telehandler vehicle is being used at HS2's West Ruislip site, where it is estimated that over a week, it saved over 400 l of fuel compared to a traditional combustion telehandler.

By cutting pollution from emissions completely, it creates greener construction sites, improving air quality for workers and the local community.

Manufactured by Faresin and supplied by plant hire company Flannery, the environmentally friendly electric drive unit provides the same performance as an equivalent conventional model but without the noise and emissions of a combustion engine. It also delivers a range of further benefits including reduced charging times and notable savings in maintenance when compared to a combustion engine telehandler.

Operations director at Flannery Plant Hire Niall Hester says his company is "committed to protecting the environment from the effects of our daily activities. We are passionate about making sure we go as far as possible to protect the public and, beyond that, enhance the environment. We're extremely pleased with the outcome from the trial and are now talking to SCS JV about how we roll out more vehicles across other HS2 sites."