Tesco powers into the new year with the UK’s first commercial electric articulated HGVs
29 December 2021

• Tesco and FSEW’s new service is a first for UK haulage and targets emissions from heavy goods vehicles, which have so far been difficult to address.

• From January, two electric heavy freight articulated trucks will transport products emissions-free between Cardiff and Magor.

• Newly commissioned lorries could play a key role in accelerating the haulage industry’s transition to zero emission transport over the next few years.

Tesco will power into the new year by launching the UK’s first commercially used fully electric heavy freight articulated trucks. Two new 37 tonne DAF electric vehicles will transport food and other products from Wentloog rail terminal outside Cardiff to Tesco’s distribution centre in Magor, Wales, in partnership with logistics and international freight forwarding company FSEW.

Heavy goods vehicles make up around 16 percent of the UK’s domestic transport emissions and addressing this can play a significant role in delivering the UK’s net zero ambitions. Despite significant advances in battery technology and charging infrastructure for smaller vehicles, there hasn’t been a commercially viable solution for electric haulage and distribution until now.

These first two lorries will replace around 65,000 diesel-fuelled road miles with clean green energy, removing 87.4 tonnes of CO2e per year. To power the new service FSEW has installed charging points at its site in South Wales that provide enough energy to power these large vehicles for 100 miles before needing to charge again. At around 30 miles each way the Wentloog - Magor journey is an ideal location to understand the potential and range of these lorries for use throughout the UK and elsewhere in Tesco’s fleet.[/b]

By demonstrating that electric HGV transportation is commercially viable, this service will contribute to encouraging wider investment in technology and innovation that will support the haulage sector’s efforts to reduce emissions and air pollution. It will also contribute to Tesco’s efforts to achieve net zero emissions in its own operations by 2035, and FSEW’s work to replace more than 40 diesel vehicles with low-carbon alternatives and switch to fleet-wide zero-emissions transport operations by 2025.

Jason Tarry, Tesco UK and ROI 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, Tesco Distribution Centre Magor, said: “We all want to do what we can for the environment so we’re proud that Magor and Wales was chosen to be the first location to use these zero emissions lorries. 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 said: “This is a landmark day for us here at FSEW, representing a major step forward in our commitment to providing zero emissions transport freight services. Together we are working to create a cleaner and greener logistics experience. 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.”

“Setting the industry standard is important to us which is why we also have plans underway 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 and are also launching this month two further trucks running on 100% renewable biomethane fuel for freight transport use.”




Sources:
https://www.tescoplc.com/news/2021/tesco-powers-into-the-new-year-with-the-uk-s-first-commercial-electric-articulated-hgvs/
https://www.autofutures.tv/2021/12/30/tesco-commercial-electric-lorries/
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/dec/29/tesco-to-begin-uks-first-commercial-use-of-fully-electric-hgvs

The gradual DEATH of petroleum-based fuel.

Crude oil producing countries should start thinking seriously of diversifying
there economies like Malaysia did by investing more in gas processing instead
depending too much on crude oil and petrol exports.

Yes, electric vehicles, this is the way to go... Green energy!

Zero emission from articulated trucks.

I'm aware that some articulated trucks in Nigeria and globally
have been converted to use gas for movement of goods though.



More...

Tesco is to launch the first fully-electric HGVs to be used commercially in Britain to serve its distribution centre in Wales.

Two 37-tonne lorries will transport goods from a rail freight terminal in Cardiff to the company’s hub in Magor, about 30 miles away, from January.

The vehicles can travel about 100 miles on a single charge, making the relatively short distance of the round trip an ideal route to test how further vehicles could be rolled out in the fleet, Britain’s biggest supermarket said.

The first two, from the Dutch manufacturer DAF, are expected to make about 65,000 miles of haulage journeys otherwise made by diesel vehicles, cutting an estimated 87.4 tonnes of CO2 emissions a year.

HGVs contribute about 16% of all emissions from UK transport, the sector that now contributes most to greenhouse gases. Battery weight and range requirements have made HGVs a more difficult proposition than cars to electrify.

OK... Simply kick-ass!



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBe-jXbkO3U


Elon Musk and Tesla unveil world’s first electric lorry

The Tesla Semi has a range of 500 miles and its creator hopes it will be a game-changer in the most of gas-guzzling of industries – haulage.

The Semi will be able to reach 0-60mph in 20 seconds when pulling 36,287kgs, the US maximum load, drive long stretches on auto-pilot and will go into production in 2019. The industry employs 3.5 million drivers, the vast majority of which use diesel powered trucks, and creates a disproportionate amount of pollution. Mr Musk said: ‘It’s not like any truck that you’ve ever driven. This will blow your mind clear out of your skull and into an alternate dimension.’

Tesla boasted its new technology will prevent the Semi from jackknifing and its unique one driver position cabin will ensure safety and comfort. Musk said: ‘Jackknifing is prevented due to the Semi’s onboard sensors that detect instability and react with positive or negative torque to each wheel while independently actuating all brakes. ‘The surround cameras aid object detection and minimise blind spots, automatically alerting the driver to safety hazards and obstacles. ‘With Enhanced Autopilot, the Tesla Semi features Automatic Emergency Braking, Automatic Lane Keeping and Lane Departure Warning.’

Millions of dollars of electric infrastructure will be needed to be installed across the highways of America before electric haulage becomes a viable alternative to diesel powered lorries. The lorry was launched at Tesla’s headquarters in Los Angeles and Musk surprised the audience by unveiling the new Tesla Roadster which he said would be ‘the fastest production car ever made.’ The Roadster will go from 1-100mph in 4.2 seconds and have a range of 620 miles which Musk described as ‘a hardcore smackdown to gasoline cars’.

The Tesla Semi will be the first mass production electric lorry but Daimler, Volkswagen and Cummins have all made concept models and hope to break into the market.