The Ginsters Mercedes-Benz Sprinter with a trial streamlining package that the the firm believes may save up to 5% on fuel costs.

Delivering pasties is a weighty business, but Ginsters’ fleet supplier Hitachi Capital is determined to make sure that the firm’s fuel bill is as lean as possible.

To try and cut Ginsters’ fuel costs, Hitachi Capital Commercial Vehicle Solutions has teamed up with bodybuilder Solomons to develop a prototype refrigerated box van for Cornwall-based bakery manufacturer Ginsters.

The vehicle’s sleek new aerodynamic box body design with a distinct wavy roofline and streamlined Thermo King cab-mounted fridge unit aims to reduce fuel consumption by up to five per cent.

Based on a Mercedes Sprinter 3.5 tonne GVW chassis the vehicle will be run for six months alongside a regular box van on identical routes in the Midlands region where its fuel consumption will be closely monitored through its on board telematics system.

The body is made of a standard three- element insulated panel design with the fridge capable of transporting both chilled and frozen goods up to -20 centigrade. A modified rear step and door configuration is also being trialled, which is aimed at improving driver safety when unloading the van.

“Our fleet of box vans carries out the very high profile role of delivering our bakery products into thousands stores across the UK on a daily basis and we are looking forward to seeing the results of the trial. Once we have the results we will then decide on whether to extend the trial,” said Andrew Gibbons, Ginsters’ fleet continuous improvements manager.

Hitachi Capital will have supplied over fifty of Ginsters’ vans on a contract hire basis by the end of 2013 on four year deal. They also manage Ginsters’ fleet maintenance provision through the Mercedes network.