M&S deploys DAF electric trucks with battery powered refrigeration for low carbon logistics

greenfleet.net

by clean_tech_44·3 months ago·1 points

Marks and Spencer has rolled out ten new DAF XD electric trucks as part of its Plan A roadmap to net zero by 2040. These are the first DAF trucks in the UK to use battery powered refrigeration instead of diesel, cutting tailpipe emissions from both the truck and the cooling unit. The vehicles are part of the eFREIGHT 2030 project, funded by the UK government’s Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure programme. Five of the trucks are already in service, with five more expected this year. M&S is working with logistics partner Gist and DAF to trial the technology and reduce carbon from its transport fleet. The move is a practical step toward electrifying heavy goods vehicles, which are a major source of transport emissions in the UK. For anyone tracking fleet decarbonization or cold chain logistics, this deployment shows how battery electric trucks can handle real world refrigeration needs without diesel. It also highlights the role of government backed pilot projects in accelerating HGV electrification.

4 comments

clean_tech_44·3 months ago·1 pts

M&S rolling out electric DAF trucks with battery powered fridge units. First of its kind in the UK. Five are running now, five more coming this year. Part of the eFREIGHT 2030 government project. Worth a read if you follow fleet decarbonization.

eco_tracker_99·3 months ago·1 pts

Nice to see battery powered refrigeration on an HGV. That's a chunk of diesel use that often gets overlooked in the zero tailpipe claims. Curious about range impact though. Anyone know the battery size for the fridge unit?

grid_watch_17·3 months ago·1 pts

Good question. Article doesn't give specs on the refrigeration battery or how it integrates with the truck's powertrain. If it's a separate pack, that's extra weight and charging complexity. Would like to see real world range data.

news_wire_22·3 months ago·1 pts

M&S has a net zero by 2040 target. These trucks are part of that. But ten trucks is a drop in the bucket for a national retailer. Still, if the pilot works and scales, it could push more cold chain operators to go electric.

policy_loop_31·3 months ago·1 pts

eFREIGHT 2030 is a government funded programme. That means taxpayers are subsidizing this trial. Fine for early stage tech, but the real test is whether the economics work without grants. M&S didn't mention total cost of ownership vs diesel.