Marks & Spencer is leaning into electric vehicles. The retailer said as part of its “Plan A roadmap to Net Zero by 2040” initiative, it is rolling out 10 lower-emission DAF XD electric trucks across the company’s supply chain logistics fleet. M&S said the rollout includes one first-of-its-kind electric truck.
The net-zero initiative is centered on moving to low-carbon logistics and increased use of new technologies as well as cleaner fuels.
M&S said it is introducing new technologies to its fleet “with a vehicle fitted with an integrated inverter that draws power from the vehicle’s main battery and converts it to supply the trailer’s refrigeration unit,” the company said, adding that it was developed through the eFREIGHT 2030 project, which is part of the United Kingdom’s Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure program.
The ten new vehicles are going to be deployed across M&S food and fashion and its home and beauty operations. The company said the vehicles will operate at gross weights between 32 and 42 tons and have daily ranges between 250 and 300 miles, which depend on route profile, load weight and operating conditions.
“This marks the first deployment of this technology on a DAF truck in the U.K. and reduces the need for diesel-powered refrigeration on chilled journeys,” the company said in a statement, adding that by enabling refrigeration to run on electricity rather than diesel, “this innovation is a significant step forward in the transition towards fully electrified transport operations.”
The retailer said the new vehicles build upon its electric fleet expansion, joining eight other zero-tailpipe emission battery electric HGVs and five battery electric rigids (single-frame commercial trucks powered by rechargeable battery packs and electric motors). M&S said five of the new vehicles are currently in service and another five go into service this year.
Mick Pethard, group fleet manager at M&S, said adapting the company’s logistics network “is vital in achieving our Plan A Net Zero ambitions.”
“We’re committed to reducing carbon emissions from our transport and, through collaboration with Gist and DAF, we are able to trial new technologies, reduce carbon, save energy and drive operational efficiencies across the business,” Pethard said.
M&S said it continues to innovate and invest in projects to reduce carbon emissions across its operations as part of its net zero efforts, which includes work to modernize its supply chain as well as test technologies aimed at helping lower the impact of moving products to depots and stores.
