Bradford-based logistics provider, Expect Distribution, has recently taken a major step towards achieving its goal of reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2035. The company has received two new Renault Trucks E-Tech vehicles, which are the first fully electric heavy goods vehicles to join Expect Distribution’s fleet of over 100 HGVs.
The two vehicles, a Renault Trucks E-Tech T 4×2 tractor unit with sleeper cab and a Renault Trucks E-Tech D Wide rigid with curtainsider body, were delivered by JDS Truck & Van. They will be based at Expect Distribution’s Woodlands distribution hub in Bradford, where two new 240kW chargers have been installed by Voltempo. These chargers have the capacity to charge two vehicles simultaneously and will primarily be used to recharge the electric trucks overnight. There are also plans to make the charging facilities available to third parties at other times.
One of the vehicles will be used to trunk to the Palletline hub in Birmingham on a daily basis, while the other will be deployed to make store deliveries for cardfactory across the local region. According to Expect Distribution, these electric trucks are expected to save approximately 195 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually compared to their diesel counterparts.
Andy Taylor, Operations Director at Expect Distribution, expressed the company’s excitement about this new development, stating, “These are the very first electric trucks to join our fleet, and we see this as the start of our electrification journey.” He also mentioned that the eFREIGHT 2030 project has provided the company with the opportunity to invest in technology that not only reduces carbon emissions but also proves the possibility of achieving sustainability in logistics without unsustainable cost increases.
Mr. Taylor further added, “We’ve worked closely with cardfactory to align this project with their sustainability goals and to optimize routes to ensure we can service their stores effectively and efficiently with the new EVs.” He emphasized that Expect Distribution is fully committed to achieving Net Zero by 2035 and sees the eFREIGHT 2030 project as a key step in helping them and their customers achieve this goal. He also mentioned that the company will continue to explore further electrification opportunities across all their routes.
Michael Boxwell, CEO of Voltempo, commended Expect Distribution for deploying their first electric HGVs under the eFREIGHT 2030 program. He stated that these vehicles will not only reduce emissions immediately but will also provide valuable real-world data and insights into how electric HGVs can operate efficiently in everyday logistics. He also encouraged more companies to take this step to accelerate the industry’s transition to zero-emission road freight.
Simon Buckley, Knowledge Transfer Manager for Zero Emission Mobility at Innovate UK, also praised Expect Distribution’s efforts, stating, “Expect Distribution’s introduction of its first electric HGVs and charging facilities marks a significant step forward – both for the eFREIGHT 2030 project and for the UK’s shift towards zero-emission freight.” He mentioned that through ZEHID, Innovate UK, in partnership with the Department for Transport, is supporting projects like this to demonstrate how zero-emission road freight can be achieved in practice. He also expressed the UK’s commitment to lead the way towards cleaner, smarter logistics.
The eFREIGHT 2030 consortium, led by Voltempo, is one of four UK government-funded demonstrator projects under the Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID) program. This program aims to kickstart the uptake of zero-emission HGVs. Expect Distribution’s new electric trucks follow earlier deployments by eFREIGHT members M&S, Welch’s Transport, and Kuehne+Nagel, with more deployments planned for the coming months and next year.
The eFREIGHT 2030 consortium is introducing up to 100 electric HGVs, a mix of 4×2 and 6×2 tractor units, and 32 new charging locations, the majority of which will have megawatt-charging capacity, over a multi-year real-world evaluation. This project aims to pave the way for zero-emission transport. This news article was distributed by https://pressat.co.uk/.
