Electric truck on show for World Environment Day

5 June 2008

Orion wheeled out its historic Walker electric truck recently for a World Environment Day event in Christchurch, as part of its sustainable transport display which examined the potential for electric vehicles in Christchurch.

The Step Up Canterbury World Environment Day Expo was held at the Christchurch Convention Centre on 5 June, and the Orion electric vehicle display reinforced our commitment to producing responsible and sustainable energy solutions for the long term benefit of our community.

“We are keeping a watchful eye on the electric vehicle as a potential environmentally-friendly alternative to petrol and diesel powered vehicles,” says Orion Energy Projects Manager Stephen Godfrey.

“It’s looking increasingly likely that electric vehicles will be the future mode of road transportation for our community, and at Orion we are keen to plan for their introduction now,” he says.

Electric vehicles have been identified as a possible pathway for the transport sector to reduce its emissions and therefore improve air quality.

The World Environment Day event in Christchurch, organised by Environment Canterbury, was the ideal platform to showcase Orion’s Walker electric truck, which was purchased by the Municipal Electricity Department (MED) in 1919 for general carrying duties.

It was the last electric vehicle operated by the MED, and was taken out of service in 1947 after completing 200,000 miles (320,000km). The Walker was restored to full working order in 1983 and is now used in vintage displays and processions.

To view Orion’s brochure about electric vehicles, their history and their future use in Canterbury, click here.