Volvo Trucks has supplied Tesco with a new FM Electric 4×2 tractor unit to support the supermarket’s commitment to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2035.
The truck’s arrival marks the first zero tailpipe emission 40-tonne electric Volvo model to be delivered into service with a UK supermarket.
Supplied by Volvo Trucks UK & Ireland, the new FM Electric with Globetrotter cab meets the Direct Vision Standard three-star rating and will operate with various trailer types and lengths.
It will be used to deliver goods to stores across Greater London, Suffolk, Essex and Kent, hauling ambient grocery items seven days a week.
The FM Electric is powered by three electrical motors, generating 2,400 Nm of continuous torque, paired with Volvo’s I-Shift gearbox.
It is backed with a comprehensive five-year Volvo Gold Contract covering all maintenance and repairs, and including proactive monitoring of batteries and associated components.
Equipped with the maximum six batteries, the vehicle has a range of about 300km and will primarily be charged on site in Thurrock.
Charging time is two and a half hours with a 250kW DC charger, or nine and a half hours on a 43 kW AC charger.
The truck is expected to run double shifts, covering about 70,000 miles per year.
Cliff Smith, Tesco’s Fleet Engineering Manager, said: “We don’t allocate vehicles to specific routes, so it is imperative any new truck can immediately slot into our workflow and tackle any assignment effectively. We’re confident the FM Electric will do just that, making a seamless transition into our day-to-day operations.”
