Bradford-based logistics provider, Expect Distribution, has taken a major step towards its goal of reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2035 by adding two new fully electric heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) to its fleet. The company, which specializes in national logistics, received the two new Renault Trucks E-Techs as part of the eFREIGHT 2030 project on Friday 26 September, 2025.
The two vehicles, a Renault Trucks E-Tech T 4×2 tractor unit with sleeper cab and a Renault Trucks E-Tech D Wide rigid with curtainsider body, were delivered by JDS Truck & Van. They are the first fully electric trucks to join Expect Distribution’s fleet of over 100 HGVs. The company’s Woodlands distribution hub in Bradford, located just off the M62, is now equipped with two new 240kW chargers, installed by Voltempo. These chargers have the capability to charge two vehicles simultaneously and will primarily be used to recharge the trucks overnight. However, the company plans to make the charging facilities available to third parties at other times.
The first electric truck will be used for daily trunking to the Palletline hub in Birmingham, while the second will be deployed for store deliveries for cardfactory in the local region. The introduction of these two electric trucks is expected to result in an annual saving of approximately 195 tonnes of carbon dioxide compared to their diesel counterparts.
Operations Director at Expect Distribution, Andy Taylor, expressed excitement about the company’s electrification journey, saying, “These are the very first electric trucks to join our fleet, and we see this as the start of our electrification journey.” He also mentioned the company’s commitment to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2035 and how the eFREIGHT 2030 project has allowed them to invest in technology that reduces emissions without causing unsustainable cost increases.
Taylor also highlighted the collaboration with cardfactory to align the project with their sustainability goals and optimize routes for efficient and effective store deliveries. He added, “As a business, we are fully committed to achieving Net Zero by 2035, and we see eFREIGHT 2030 as a key step in helping us, and our customers, deliver on these ambitions. We’ll continue exploring where further electrification is appropriate across all our routes.”
CEO of Voltempo, Michael Boxwell, commended Expect Distribution for deploying their first electric HGVs under the eFREIGHT 2030 programme. He believes that these trucks will not only reduce emissions immediately but also provide valuable insights into the efficient operation of electric HGVs in everyday logistics. Boxwell also emphasized the importance of more companies taking this step to accelerate the industry’s transition to zero-emission road freight.
Innovate UK’s Knowledge Transfer Manager for Zero Emission Mobility, Simon Buckley, also praised Expect Distribution for their introduction of electric HGVs and charging facilities. He stated, “Together, we are helping the UK lead the way towards cleaner, smarter logistics.” Innovate UK, in partnership with the Department for Transport, is supporting projects like eFREIGHT to showcase how zero-emission road freight can be achieved in practice.
The eFREIGHT 2030 consortium, led by Voltempo, is one of four UK government-funded demonstrator projects under the Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID) programme. This programme aims to kickstart the uptake of zero-emission HGVs. Expect Distribution’s new electric trucks follow earlier deployments by eFREIGHT members M&S, Welch’s Transport, and Kuehne+Nagel. More deployments are expected to follow over the next few months and into next year.
The eFREIGHT 2030 consortium plans to introduce up to 100 electric HGVs, including a mix of 4×2 and 6×2 tractor units, and 32 new charging locations, most of which will have megawatt-charging capacity, over a multi-year real-world evaluation. This evaluation is expected to pave the way for zero-emission transport.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.