Marks & Spencer is introducing 85 zero or lower emission vehicles to its supply chain logistics fleet as part of its Plan A roadmap to Net Zero by 2040.
A total of five zero emission battery electric HGVs will operate between M&S’ Clothing & Home distribution centre in Welham Green, and 30 stores across London and the South East, including Oxford Street and Bluewater.
The 42-tonne battery electric Renault trucks will directly replace equivalent diesel trucks.
The vehicles are delivered under the eFREIGHT 2030 project, part of the UK Government’s zero emission HGV and infrastructure demonstrator programme (ZEHID) which aims to decarbonise road freight transport.
From September, M&S also started taking delivery of 30 new Iveco vehicles that run on compressed natural gas for its Clothing & Home business, the first retailer to introduce 6×2 CNGs in the UK.
The retailer also recently introduced 50 4×2 compressed natural gas vehicles to its Food logistics business Gist as part of its food supply chain transformation.
The compressed natural gas lorry cabs are powered by biomethane, a sustainable renewable fuel derived from waste products including food, animal manure and waste water, which reduces CO2 emissions by up to 85% versus a diesel engine.
Once these 85 vehicles are in operation, almost 10% of M&S’ total transport fleet will be powered by zero or lower-emission solutions.
Julian Bailey, Head of Group Transport at M&S, said: “By trialling new vehicle technologies, we’re able to deliver our products, which are sourced and made with care, to our depots and stores with a lower impact on our planet.”