Tesco to launch UK’s first commercial electric articulated HGVs next month
Tesco is set to launch the UK’s first commercially used fully electric heavy freight articulated trucks as it looks to achieve net zero emissions in its own operations by 2035.
In a partnership with with FSEW, the supermarket will use two new 37 tonne DAF electric vehicles from the new year to transport food and other products from Wentloog rail terminal outside Cardiff to its distribution centre in Magor in Wales.
The lorries will replace around 65,000 diesel-fuelled road miles with clean green energy and remove 87.4 tonnes of CO2e per year. The vehicles will use charging points at FSEW’s site in South Wales that will provide enough energy to power them for 100 miles before needing to charge again. The Wentloog to Magor journey is around 30 miles each way.
Despite significant advances in battery technology and charging infrastructure for smaller vehicles, there has not been a commercially viable solution for electric haulage and distribution until now.
Jason Tarry, Tesco UK and ROI chief executive, said: “Tesco’s distribution network is one of the largest in the UK and plays an important role in our efforts to become net zero in our own operations by 2035. We’ve already made progress by starting our switch to electric home delivery vans and rolling out electric vehicles charging points for our customers. I’m excited that Tesco can also lead the way in electric haulage innovation, helping to tackle this last source of road transport emissions with the support of FSEW.”
