Cardiff, Wales: Tesco is launching the UK’s first fully electric heavy freight articulated trucks.
Two new 37 tonne Daf electric tractors will carry food and other products from Wentloog rail terminal outside Cardiff to Tesco’s distribution centre in Magor, Wales, in partnership with FSEW.
FSEW will own and operate the charging infrastructure to support the operation and will manage the goods arriving by rail to Cardiff on behalf of Tesco. Up to 48 cages of goods, made up of predominantly non-chilled food and clothing, will be transported per load.
These first two lorries will replace around 65,000 diesel-fuelled road miles with clean green energy. To power the new service FSEW has installed charging points at its site in South Wales that provide enough energy to power these large vehicles for 100 miles before needing to charge again.
At around 30 miles each way the Wentloog – Magor journey is an ideal location to understand the potential and range of these lorries for use throughout the UK and elsewhere in Tesco’s fleet.
By demonstrating that electric HGV transportation is commercially viable, this service will contribute to encouraging wider investment in technology and innovation that will support the haulage sector’s efforts to reduce emissions and air pollution. It will also contribute to Tesco’s efforts to achieve net zero emissions in its own operations by 2035, and FSEW’s work to replace more than 40 diesel vehicles with low-carbon alternatives and switch to fleet-wide zero-emissions transport operations by 2025.
Jason Tarry, chief executive, Tesco UK and Ireland 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.”
Geoff Tomlinson, managing director, FSEW, (pictured) said: “This is a landmark day for us, representing a major step forward in our commitment to providing zero emissions transport freight services. Together we are working to create a cleaner and greener logistics experience. This is transformational for the UK’s commercial and retail industries and is just the start of our work to supply electric heavy freight vehicles to customers such as Tesco.”
“Setting the industry standard is important to us which is why we also have plans underway to create an eFreight hub in Cardiff which will include a low carbon fuel facility for the use of all freight providers and commercial and municipal operators and are also launching this month two further trucks running on 100% renewable biomethane fuel for freight transport use.”
