Tesco to start logistics services with battery-electric trucks

Battery-electric trucks will be operated by FSEW for Tesco

Tesco is to start using battery electric trucks to move food and other products. According to the supermarket statement, this is the first commercial use of fully-electric articulated freight trucks in the UK.

The two 37-tonne DAF trucks will move products between the Wentloog rail terminal, located near Cardiff, Wales, to the Tesco distribution centre in Magor, also in Wales.

The trucks will be operated in partnership with logistics and international freight forwarding company FSEW. The company has installed charging points at its site in South Wales which will be used to replenish the vehicle battery packs. On a full charge the trucks will have a range of about 100 miles.

The journey between Wentloog and Magor is about 60 miles round trip. The trucks will be evaluated for further applications across the Tesco distribution network.

The two trucks will replace about 65,000 miles of diesel-fuelled road miles each year, saving 87.4 tonnes of CO2.

Heavy goods vehicles are said to represent about 16% of transport emissions in the UK. Addressing this can play a role in achieving the country’s net-zero goals. The use of battery-electric trucks will help Tesco achieve its own net-zero goals by 2035.

For its part, FSEW is planning to replace more than 40 diesel vehicles with low-carbon alternatives and switch to fleet-wide zero-emissions transport operations by 2025.

Tesco already operates a fleet of electric delivery vehicles and offers electric charging points for customers at many of its stores.