Trucks
Trucks
From bakeries and breweries to supermarkets and restaurants, many food and beverage companies have set themselves ambitious targets for lowering their CO2 emissions. But what role does transportation play, and how much difference can electric trucks make to your carbon footprints?
While many industries and companies are striving for carbon neutrality, the food and beverage industry is moving faster than most. This is because customers in your industry are really pushing for it, and many are even willing to pay a little more for sustainable products.
The challenge is that it can be hard to lower your CO2 emissions within your own operations alone (scope 1 emissions). For example, it has been estimated that for large supermarket chains, 93% of their emissions are outside of their direct control.
Since around 19% of emissions from the food and beverage industry come from transportation, working with haulers with more sustainable fleets is an obvious place to start making reductions.
By transitioning from conventional diesel trucks to electric (or another low emission fuel such as biogas, HVO or biodiesel) you can achieve immediate and tangible CO2 reductions. However, this is not the only benefit of using electric trucks.
Unlike diesel trucks, they can be used for making deliveries in low-emission zones. And because of their low noise levels, they can also be used for night-time deliveries. This gives your haulers greater flexibility too, especially in an industry where delivering right on time is essential for keeping produce fresh.
Electric trucks can also be good for your brand image as they demonstrate clear proof of your commitment to sustainability.
For many businesses, using electric trucks can enhance your brand’s image.
To support your haulers in making the transition, you may wish to consider using longer contracts, so that they feel more secure about making long-term investments in electric trucks and charging infrastructure.
Charging infrastructure is also a challenge for many haulers, which you can help overcome by investing in chargers at your facilities. If electric trucks can top-up charge while loading and unloading, this can greatly increase their potential range and make it easier for haulers to deliver.
The time to start is now. Many companies have set 2030 as a deadline for their carbon targets, which is not far away. There are many factors to consider and plan for when transitioning to electric trucks. So, start now with the low-hanging fruit. For example, if you have any regular routes between two points, this can be an optimal starting point for an electric truck.
The time to start is now. The technology is already here and can already save a lot of CO2
Yes, the technology is already here: and it can already save you a lot of CO2. There are a lot of myths and misconceptions about electric trucks, particularly about how far they can drive and how much they can carry. But the truth is that electric trucks have been in operation for several years now, and Volvo Trucks alone has sold around 6,000 electric trucks in 42 countries. To date, they have proven to be as reliable and productive as their diesel equivalents.
At the very least, start talking to your suppliers and haulers, and see how you can support one another to decarbonize your transport. You can even contact an electric truck manufacturer directly, to see if they can support you. The sooner you make the transition, the sooner you can make tangible CO2 reductions and make strides towards your net-zero targets.
