The UK’s largest retailer, Tesco, is putting electric trucks on the road to transport goods to its distribution centre (DC) in Magor, Wales.
From this month, two electric trucks will take food and other products between Wentloog rail terminal outside Cardiff to the grocer’s DC, in partnership with logistics and international freight forwarding company FSEW.
Tesco said the newly commissioned lorries could play a key role in accelerating the haulage industry’s transition to “zero emission transport” over the next few years.
According to the retailer, the 37-tonne DAF electric trucks will replace around 65,000 diesel-fuelled road miles with “clean green energy” and remove 87.4 tonnes of CO2e per year.
FSEW has installed charging points at its site in south Wales, providing the energy required to power these large vehicles for 100 miles before needing to recharge. At around 30 miles each way the Wentloog-Magor journey has been deemed an ideal location to help the businesses understand the potential and range of these lorries for use throughout the UK and elsewhere in Tesco’s fleet.
Jason Tarry, Tesco UK & Republic of Ireland CEO, 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.”
Jason Watts, distribution centre manager at Tesco’s Magor site, said: “It’s always exciting to get new kit and we can’t wait to try these lorries out in our busy operation.”
Geoff Tomlinson, FSEW managing director, added: “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.”
Tomlinson also indicated that FSWE has plans 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.
Two trucks running on 100% renewable biomethane fuel for freight transport use are also being launched by FSEW.
Read more about alternative fuels and energy in retail on Green Retail World
[Image credit: Tesco]
