Ground Control Trials Industry Leading Winter Maintenance, De-icing Technology
- Gritting division to trial secondary electrical engine to dispense salt
- Environmentally-friendly and quicker acting de-icing brine solution to also be tested
- Trials are part of commitment to pursue green technology and become carbon neutral by 2025
Ground Control‘s commitment to caring for the environment will see the country’s biggest winter maintenance provider trial a number of industry-leading, green technologies over the coming months in a move towards make their gritting business carbon neutral.
Ground Control and The Gritting Company will replace the secondary diesel engine routinely used to dispense salt or grit on one of its trucks with a fully electric drive, offering six to eight hours of continuous use on a single charge.
Another gritting vehicle will be adapted to carry a tank of brine, allowing the operator to dispense the mixture to reduce the amount of salt or grit used. Not only does the pre-activated solution melt snow and ice quicker, it’s more environmentally friendly – it uses less than 50% salt than a typical gritting application, reducing the potential harm done to adjacent vegetation affected during the spreading process.
Ian Morehouse, Winter Maintenance Director at Ground Control, said:
With more than 200 gritting delivery teams serving over 9,000 customer locations across the country, Ground Control hopes the winter season trials will mark a sea change for the industry.
The trial is the latest example of Ground Control’s commitment to sustainability. Earlier this year it launched the Evergreen Fund and committed to invest five percent of annual net profits in an environmental impact venture fund. In addition, more than 40% of company cars are electric with plans to reach 100% by the end of 2021.
