The Tesco fleet of trucks now features the UK’s first commercially used fully electric heavy freight articulated trucks.
Specifically, two 37-tonne DAF CF Electrics will transport food and other products.
The battery-powered vehicles will operate from Wentloog rail terminal outside Cardiff to Tesco’s distribution centre in Magor, Wales.
The scheme is being run in partnership with logistics and international freight forwarding company FSEW.
Importantly, the new DAFs will replace around 65,000 diesel-fuelled road miles with clean green energy.
Therefore, they will remove 87.4 tonnes of CO2e a year.
The service will be made possible by the installation, by FSEW of charging points in South Wales.
These chargers will provide enough energy to power the trucks for 100 miles.
As a result, the Wentloog – Magor journey, which is around 30 miles each way, is ideal.
Furthermore, the company will gain valuable data about the trucks’ potential and range ahead of further EVs arriving on the Tesco fleet.
Tesco is hoping to achieve net zero emissions in its operations by 2035.
Therefore, FSEW is working to replace more than 40 diesel vehicles with low-carbon alternatives.
In addition, the aim is to switch to fleet-wide zero-emissions transport operations by 2025.
Jason Tarry, Tesco UK and ROI CEO laid out the size of the task.
“Tesco’s distribution network is one of the largest in the UK.
“It plays an important role in our efforts to become net zero in our own operations by 2035.
“However, we’ve already made progress by starting our switch to electric home delivery vans.”
Elsewehere, the company has rolled out electric vehicles charging points for Tesco customers.
Meanwhile, Geoff Tomlinson, the FSEW managing director hailed the announcement as a ‘landmark day’ for the company.
“It represents a major step forward in our commitment to providing zero emissions transport freight services.
