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Specially Equipped Electric Transport
In the Neder-Betuwe dike reinforcement project, the vast majority of transportation on the dike is carried out using electric vehicles. Using specially equipped electric trucks, Millenaar and van Schaik Transport transport large quantities of clay and raw materials across the work section every day. Incidentally, these vehicles are no strangers to the dikes in Gelderland.
“For this project, Dijkalliantie Neder-Betuwe has reserved electric trucks from us,” begins Marcel Vermeulen, director of Millenaar and van Schaik Transport. “These aren’t standard vehicles. The trucks have been specially modified for heavy-duty work on the dike and feature a stainless steel lining on the inside of the cargo bed. This prevents clay from sticking as easily.”
For Millenaar and van Schaik Transport, the dikes in Gelderland are familiar territory. “These same electric Volvos were previously used for the dike reinforcement project between Tiel and Waardenburg,” says Marcel. “Behind the wheel is a core group of drivers who specifically choose this type of work. We started out as an asphalt company, but we’re also fortunate to have a group of drivers who actually get a boost from these kinds of projects—the ones that are just a little different. On the dike, they form a close-knit team that is fully integrated into daily operations and receives all direction from the alliance.”
Marcel is proud of the partnership with the Dike Alliance. “It’s an organization with a strong focus on solutions. This is evident, for example, in the way they organize charging facilities,” he explains. “While grid congestion is becoming an increasingly common challenge, the alliance is actively seeking local opportunities to power vehicles. From temporary charging stations to smart partnerships with local entities that have unused power capacity: they’re looking everywhere for practical and sustainable solutions. It’s great to work with organizations like this, because we learn from them, too.”
According to Marcel, this innovative approach aligns well with the vision of Millenaar & Van Schaik Transport. “We’ve been investing in electric vehicles for years and are seeing rapid developments. Our current, first-generation electric trucks have only a limited range of about 280 kilometers. That’s sufficient for work on the dike, but our newest vehicles can now easily reach 550 kilometers. This means that recharging along the way is becoming less and less necessary—ideal for large-scale asphalt projects.”
