Port operator’s accelerator scheme runs offers hauliers 12-week EV trial as decarbonisation effort continues
DP World is to offer its members the chance to trial electric HGVs through a dedicated rental initiative at the Port of Southampton.
The Electric Vehicle Introduction and Transition Accelerator (Evita) trial, forms part of the second phase its Low Carbon Truck Programme, which aims to reduce carbon emissions from the group’s UK trucking operations.
And it builds on an apparently successful pilot in January in partnership with the University of Cambridge’s Centre for Sustainable Road Freight and Project Jolt.
The programme begins in July and is scheduled to run until 2029. The group said it would enable hauliers to use electric HGVs at the same cost as diesel vehicles, for a period of 12-weeks in real-world operating conditions.
It will also help them understand how electric HGVs perform across their own routes and supply chains in comparison to traditional diesel trucks.
The vehicles are fitted with tracking systems that allow participating customers to analyse their performance, efficiency and environmental impact.
John Trenchard, vice-president of sustainable supply chains, Europe, at DP World, said: “More than 80 per cent of UK freight is transported by road, so decarbonisation initiatives that empower hauliers to take action on their own supply chains are key for the UK energy transition.
“With the Evita trial, DP World is demonstrating its commitment to enabling the industry to adopt more sustainable methods of moving goods through a practical and commercially attractive pathway.
“DP World see its future growth in the net zero economy, so over the next three years, we’re aiming to provide around a hundred trial opportunities for hauliers on the programme, giving them early access to the real-world experiences of managing their operations with electric trucks.”
Drew Roberts, managing director at ATL Haulage, said: “Driver feedback has been positive so far and the questions the trial is raising are the right ones. We came into this to de-risk the unknown and that’s exactly what’s happening.”
There are now understood to be more than 1,500 trucks registered to DP World’s low-carbon project, supporting more than 60 UK haulage firms.
