Driven by its commitment to lead the way in reducing the environmental impact of supply chain operations, global logistics provider EV Cargo is operating the UK FMCG industry’s first all-electric, zero-emission HGV as part of a significant sustainability partnership with one of its key customers.
EV Cargo will today hit the road in the all-new DAF CF Electric tractor unit as it leads the way in reducing CO2 emissions associated with supply chain operations.
The truck will make deliveries for The Park, the independent, carbon-neutral business based in Bristol, which packages 25% of all wine sold in the UK. It currently ships six million bottles of wine per week to customers, including leading retailers such as Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Aldi.
Its partnership with EV Cargo to use one of the UK’s first electric, zero-emission HGVs will reduce the company’s carbon footprint even further, saving 17,500 litres of diesel per year and 47,347 kg/CO2e, including 651 kg/N2O, among other air pollutants.
The DAF CF Electric 4×2 tractor unit being operated by The Park and EV Cargo is one of the first zero-emission trucks to enter the market. At the heart of the vehicle is a 210 kW (240 kW peak power) electric motor and the vehicle has a range of up to 250 kilometres (depending on the application, driving circumstances and load).
With smart journey planning and interim battery charging during loading and unloading, the vehicle can potentially be used in operation 24/7.
A core company value, sustainability features highly on EV Cargo’s agenda. As a signatory to the UN Global Compact with a commitment to its Sustainable Development Goals, EV Cargo has made incredible strides over the last 12 months to help decarbonise its operations – guided by a sustainability strategy built around three pillars: people, planet and profit.
Dr Virginia Alzina, EV Cargo Chief Sustainability Officer, said: “As longstanding logistics and supply chain partners, we’ve been working closely with The Park to introduce more sustainable practices within its distribution operations and today’s achievement marks a milestone for the industry. Sustainability is one of EV Cargo’s core values and we are continually looking at innovative ways to decarbonise supply chains to reduce both our, and our customers’, impact on the environment.
“Like many businesses we’re continually looking for more sustainable practices and we see today’s introduction of an electric, zero-emission truck as both a milestone and a marker of further changes to come across the industry.”
Richard Lloyd, General Manager at The Park comments: “At The Park, driving sustainability forward is at the core of our business. We lead the way in sustainable innovation in the wine industry and by further reducing our carbon footprint by introducing an electric HGV, we hope The Park will be a catalyst for change not just within the wine industry, but for all industries nationwide. As Europe’s largest wine packaging company, we recognise that we have a responsibility to ensure we play a substantial role in finding eco-solutions.”
Laurence Drake, Managing Director of DAF Trucks adds: “As a company, we are committed to developing transport solutions for our customers that can help them deliver on their environmental and sustainability objectives. Following the success of our zero-emission electric trucks launched last year, the new CF Electric being operated by The Park and EV Cargo is one of the first zero-emission HGVs to enter the market. Working alongside like-minded partners is driving the transport industry forward.”
