lorries|road transport|sustainability Archives

Gist trials electric HGVs

Posted on 12 December, 202229 July, 2025 by David Priestman

Logistics specialist Gist has launched an extensive trial in the UK of DAF’s LF Electric fridge truck, supported by key supplier, dealer Ford & Slater Limited, and DAF Trucks UK.

The vehicle will be based at Gist Hemel for the duration of the trial and is one of two 100% fully electric vehicles Gist is trialling as it continues to seek alternatives to reduce its carbon emissions and explore diesel alternatives. The second, the DAF CF power motive unit, is being trialled on routes from its operation in Thatcham.

DAF, through Ford & Slater, which supplies the majority of Gist’s trucks, has provided the 19-tonne rigid and 4 x 2 HGV unit for trials. Gist will use the vehicles across a number of routes, including transporting frozen products.

Gist moving to diesel alternatives

Kate Brown, Gist’s Director of Communications and Sustainability, said: “Moving to diesel alternatives for ambient HGV vehicles has its challenges, but finding suitable, sustainable alternatives for refrigerated transportation units adds another layer of complexity. That’s why we’re delighted to work with DAF to trial its 100% fully electric refrigerated rigid and unit. Our fleet is largely made up of refrigerated vehicles and as we continue to work on reducing our carbon emissions and creating a greener, cleaner environment we hope these trials will demonstrate that using electricity is a viable alternative.”

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. Having launched our range of zero emission CF and LF Electric trucks last year it is fantastic to see operators using them in regular operation. Working alongside likeminded partners, such as Gist, is really helping to drive the transport industry forward.”

In addition, Gist is also trialling the Volta Zero, a fully electric rigid. In partnership with Marks & Spencer and Volta Trucks, Gist is using the vehicle to support Volta’s product development by providing operational data and feedback.

White paper: is hydrogen the future for cargo?

Posted on 18 July, 2022 by David Priestman

The H2Accelerate collaboration has published a new whitepaper in support of the use of hydrogen in long-haul trucking, based on focus group discussions with truck end-users and logistics providers. The paper sets out the conclusions of a series of focus groups with companies such as Amazon, Nestle Waters, DB Schenker, and Kuehne-Nagel, who have the potential to drive significant market demand for hydrogen trucks and the growth of the sector.

In the paper, the H2Accelerate collaboration sets out the needs and expectations of trucking end users and logistics providers as these organisations look to decarbonise their operations. They also outline how hydrogen can enable end users to achieve their decarbonisation targets while maintaining operations, especially amidst mounting regulatory pressure.

The whitepaper follows two others published last year setting out the need for hydrogen trucking and expectations for the growth of the fuel cell truck market. The group also published a policy position paper stating the requirements from the Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Regulation in February 2022. Further whitepapers are expected this year to inform end users, policymakers, and regulators of the benefits of hydrogen trucking and policy needs to enable the roll-out of trucks and infrastructure.

Understanding customer requirements for fuel cell trucks

The H2Accelerate collaboration has been formed by truck manufacturers Daimler Truck, IVECO, and Volvo Group, and hydrogen infrastructure providers Linde, OMV, Shell, and TotalEnergies. The central objective of the collaboration is to enable a commercially viable, pan-European hydrogen trucking system in the post-2030 period. As fleet operators and drivers are a crucial component of a successful rollout of hydrogen trucking, their needs and expectations ought to be well-understood and met as the system is being deployed. This will be achieved through consistent communication between hardware suppliers (such as those within the H2Accelerate collaboration) and end user groups.

“The findings of this study confirm what we have been hearing from industry partners and customers for the past year or so: the heavy-duty transportation sector is on board with using hydrogen to effectively replace fossil fuels,” said David Burns, VP Clean Energy Development at Linde, a H2Accelerate member. “We know that the technology is there – we have delivered over 200 fuelling stations around the world and successfully fuelled more than 1.5 million vehicles. Together with the H2Accelerate members, we are now working on scaling up the technology and building a robust infrastructure to enable the heavy-duty transport sector to operate with zero emissions, reliably and at a competitive cost.”

The whitepaper found that the organisations, which have public-facing decarbonisation targets, understand that hydrogen freight will be a required complement to battery vehicles in order to achieve full decarbonisation of their operations. This is particularly true not only for long-haul applications, where

the advantage of fast refuelling over battery electric alternatives was stressed, but also for transport in grid-constrained areas or in applications where vehicles are double shifted.

With regards to the cost and operation of the vehicles, end users were willing to accept that in the early stages of roll out, vehicles are likely to be more expensive and infrastructure more limited that the incumbent diesel trucking system. Several end users stated that while they would be happy to pay more in the short term to trial a small number of fuel cell trucks, their business model requires that in the long term, scale improvements and supportive policy allow hydrogen trucks to achieve parity with diesel. Similarly, it is expected that in the long term, network design, station availability, and vehicle maintenance develop to allow end users to achieve similar operational convenience and flexibility to diesel.

CLICK HERE to download the full whitepaper.

Tesco rolls out electric articulated HGVs

Posted on 4 January, 202229 July, 2025 by David Priestman

Tesco is 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% 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.

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.”

BYD launches full range of eTrucks in Hungary

Posted on 30 December, 2021 by David Priestman

BYD, the world’s leading New Energy Vehicle (NEV) manufacturer, has entered the eTruck market for the first time in Hungary with its full-range of pure-electric, zero-emission eTrucks.

These include the compact, very manoeuvrable ETP3 panel van and the versatile ETM6 cargo truck. The ETM6 is suited to a wide variety of logistical operations and offers the longest driving range of its class in the market.

This coincides with BYD appointing Eurotrade as its first eTruck dealer in Hungary. Eurotrade has a long and respected 30-year heritage in the commercial truck business, and now takes on the responsibility for sales and aftersales services in Hungary, offering the full range of BYD eTrucks in key weight sectors. Through its three key facilities in Szombathely, Mass; Kisigmánd, Esztergom and Kistarcsa, customers have the reassurance of a comprehensive aftersales and parts service within Hungary.

BYD is very much ‘at home’ in Hungary, having chosen Komárom as the location to open its first manufacturing eBus facility in Europe back in 2017. BYD Electric Bus & Truck Hungary Kft. is primarily involved with eBus assembly operations and associated new energy products. BYD strongly believes in meaningful partnerships, supporting local economies through employment opportunities, and continues to invest in such initiatives, embracing its philosophy ‘made in Europe for Europe’.

BYD’s expertise in pioneering battery and electric vehicle technology delivers a longer driving range and battery life, with convenient rapid charging for optimal productivity. BYD is the first and only automotive manufacturer to produce its own powertrain system, batteries and motor control system, as part of integrated technology for increased reliability and ease of use.

Fully electric, these features combined have the added benefit of low Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) compared with traditional trucks and provide a practical zero-emission solution to commercial carriers looking to reduce their carbon footprint.

Isbrand Ho, Managing Director, BYD Europe B.V., said: “We are delighted to see our BYD eTruck business make its debut in Hungary, a country that we are already very familiar with. There is exciting market potential in Hungary for our pure-electric, zero-emissions BYD eTrucks, at a time when the world is coming together to address climate change. BYD is committed to playing an active role in helping commercial transportation make the smooth transition to clean, pure-electric trucks that are safe, reliable and practical to operate.”

Orders for BYD eTrucks are already being taken by Eurotrade in preparation for delivery to customers in Hungary in 2022.

Electric truck transports HP products in CEE

Posted on 30 July, 202129 July, 2025 by David Priestman

Since the start of June 2021, Gebrüder Weiss has been deploying an electric truck to deliver technology products for the computer and printer manufacturer HP.

Efficient and sustainable transport solutions are key concerns for the logistics provider Gebrüder Weiss, and now they are being systematically rolled out in Central and Eastern Europe as part of its overall sustainability strategy.

This is the second zero-emissions truck in the company’s fleet. Manufactured by MAN, the vehicle produces some 50 tonnes less emissions than a conventional diesel model over the course of a year. Capable of traveling up to 150km without recharging, it runs daily services to electronics wholesalers.

“By incorporating an electric truck to deliver our products, we are taking a further stride with Gebrüder Weiss towards creating a more sustainable, net zero emission supply chain. Our long-term partner Gebrüder Weiss is supporting us with its high-quality logistics expertise and laying down a marker when it comes to cutting emissions in our European operations,” says Michael Smetana, Managing Director Austria at HP.

Partners for a quarter-century

Gebrüder Weiss has been working for HP since 1996, managing numerous supply chains in Europe either as a conventional freight forwarder or a lead logistics provider. In this capacity, the company performs various services under its own brand and also coordinates third-party providers. More than a tenth of the transport services have been designed to optimise life cycles across different transport modes.

With its first electric truck, Gebrüder Weiss successfully trialled the new technology in Greater Vienna over a period of several years. Equipped with a second electric vehicle, the company is now making further advances in embedding sustainable drive technologies in its supply chains.

In addition to the fully electric models, which are charged with green electricity, the logistics professionals have a hydrogen-fuelled vehicle and several natural gas-powered trucks in service. By tapping this and other initiatives, Gebrüder Weiss is aiming to achieve climate neutrality by 2030.

Gist moving to diesel alternatives

Understanding customer requirements for fuel cell trucks

Partners for a quarter-century

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