Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company (CMBC) is introducing two fully electric HGVs to its logistics fleet this month.
The electric HGVs are manufactured by Renault Trucks, and will be on the road by the end of July as part of CMBC’s ambitions to become a greener business.
The E-Tech D Wide electric HGVs weigh in at 26 tonnes and 18 tonnes, respectively, and they will operate out of the company’s distribution depots in Cardiff and Thurrock, Essex.
CMBC – which was created by a joint venture between drinks company Carlsberg, and brewer and pub owner Marston’s – said the vehicles will be able to deliver 10,000 freshly brewed pints to pubs per day.
The partnership with Renault has been described by CMBC as “a proof-of-concept trial”, but if it proves to be successful additional electric HGVs could be introduced into its existing fleet of 270 traditional vehicles in the future.
CMBC added that the vehicles are ideal for urban distribution, including routes into London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone. The company has also installed charging points at the Cardiff and Thurrock depots which it said will be powered by electricity from renewable sources.
Sarah Perry, vice president of customer supply chain at CMBC, commented: “The pilot is the latest step towards achieving our ambition of zero carbon footprint across our value chain, as part of our ‘Together Towards ZERO sustainability’ programme.
“With the trucks capable of travelling up to 150 kilometres on a single charge, the urbanised areas of Cardiff and Essex are the ideal routes to test the potential of electric vehicles in our logistics network. This launch is potentially transformational to us as a brewer and logistics operator, but also in terms of helping pubs to build back greener after the pandemic.”
Carlos Rodrigues, managing director of Renault Trucks UK & Ireland, added: “We look forward to more organisations joining us in the coming months and years as companies take the necessary steps we must all embrace to achieve net zero.”
Both trucks are supplied by Renault Trucks dealer Allports Group, and financed by Renault Trucks Financial Services. They are backed by Renault Trucks’ battery performance promise based on typical usage, which guarantees the power available to operate these electric vehicles for up to seven years.
Read more about Carlsberg on Green Retail World
[Image credit: Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company]