The first six of 23 brand-new Volkswagen Crafter vans, specified and ordered for the Hyster NZ mobile technician team, were recently handed over to general manager Scott Kelsey and his team in Auckland.
“This represents a significant investment in our network of mobile service technicians. We are providing the best possible vehicle, specified and fitted out to equip our team to service customers across the country,” Kelsey says.
“Working with Corefleet NZ, we identified a vehicle that could add payload while offering excellent driver safety, and provide our business with a fuel-efficient, sustainable solution.”
Increased payload
That solution came in the form of an internationally recognised, award-winning van, the Volkswagen Crafter. With upgraded suspension and heavy-duty alloy wheels, the Crafter offers an additional 400 kilograms of payload over standard models, handling up to 1230kg. This gives Hyster technicians plenty of headroom to transport parts, some weighing up to 300-400kg a piece.
The specialist fit out, completed by Auckland firm Auto Transform, makes the vehicles even safer, easier, and more efficient to use. The customised vans come complete with bespoke shelving and racking to store Hyster parts and tools, and a fold-out vice built into the back section of each van.
Safety first
With added safety and comfort features more commonly found in passenger vehicles, Volkswagen’s Crafter van sits at the top of the range. Continental Cars Volkswagen commercial sales specialist Callum Bird says the Crafter “drives more like an SUV than a heavy-duty van”.
“Driver-assist features like the driver fatigue warning, blind spot sensor, 360-degree all-round parking sensors, hill start and side wind assist, make it a safer ride for the Hyster technicians – who often support customers across a wide geographical area. It’s a work vehicle, but with the Crafter, there’s no need to sacrifice driveability or comfort.”
Fuel efficiency and reduce emissions
The new Crafter’s 2L Euro 6 diesel engine meets all European emission standards, putting the Hyster team ahead of the game. On the ground this means an overall fuel efficiency gain, as well as a reduction in engine emissions by as much as a third compared with the previous model.
Euro 5 engines normally sit around 13-15 litres per 100km while the Crafter runs at 7.2 – 8.9 litres per 100km, subject to load. The vans also have on-board trip computers displaying information on fuel use per journey, providing feedback on driver fuel efficiency to support continuous improvement.
“We’re looking forward to delivering all 23 vans to help our mobile tech team provide exceptional local support across New Zealand,” Kelsey adds.
“Our products are designed for heavy duty usage and demanding operations across a wide range of industries. This investment in new fleet demonstrates Hyster’s commitment to keeping customer equipment running smoothly with maximum uptime.”
*This article appeared in the March edition of TransportTalk.
