Sunny side up at Nixon Hire

19 April 2022

Nixon Hire is increasing the number of eco-friendly welfare vans in its fleet, including vehicles that have solar panels on the roof to reduce the need to run the engine to provide power. 

The hirer’s welfare van fleet totals 277 units, 102 of which are solar, and this will now be the standard configuration. A further 28 are on order.

The adapted Ford Transits provide canteen facilities, microwave, hot water, full-size sink, drying area and a unisex toilet. 

“The solar panel is flexible and is mounted on the roof to charge the onboard split twin batteries that power the various facilities,” Nick Hibbard, Nixon Hire’s UK division manager for renewables tells me. “This reduces the need to run the engine on idle, which means fewer emissions, more silent running, and longer battery and engine life. 

“We are also developing a hydrogen fuel cell welfare van which is fully electric and totally zero-emission. We have already converted two vehicles and are testing the market with them.” 

Nixon Hire will show examples of equipment from its eco-friendly line-up at the ScotPlant exhibition taking place in Edinburgh later this week.