Tarmac and TVS Interfleet join electric truck consortium

Tarmac and TVS Interfleet (TVS) have joined eFreight 2030, part of the UK Government’s Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator Programme (ZEHID).

They join the 14 founding members of the consortium, which is funded by the Department for Transport (DfT) and delivered in partnership with Innovate UK. 

The eFreight 2030 project is introducing 100 electric HGV tractor units and 32 new charging locations over a multi-year real world evaluation that will pave the way for zero emission transport.   

As part of the programme, Tarmac will add five eHGVs equipped with a range of trailers to supply its cement, aggregate, asphalt and plant movements.  

With zero tailpipe emissions, the eHGVs align with Tarmac’s strategy to develop integrated low-carbon logistics solutions and will demonstrate how electric vehicles can work in more challenging use cases such as construction.  

Additionally, Tarmac is developing a fast-charging network around the London area which will enable truck range to be increased, match the duty cycle of its existing fleet and accelerate the decarbonisation of material deliveries to customers.   

TVS Interfleet company Wilcox Commercial Vehicles will supply one of the trailers for aggregate and asphalt movements, and this will be equipped with a new Tipper Active Safety System (TASS) with passive and active safety controls to increase the safety of the trailer during its tipping operations. 

The eHGVs, four Renault Trucks and one DAF, will join Tarmac’s eDiscovery Programme, which allows supply chain partners to lease an electric truck for a six-month period, enabling them to evaluate the vehicle’s performance in their operation before committing to a long-term investment.  

Ben Garner, head of logistics at Tarmac, said: “We are delighted to join the eFreight 2030 consortium, reiterating our commitment to our sustainability goals and reducing emissions across our logistics network. 

“At Tarmac, we are focused on delivering innovative, low-carbon solutions that support our transition to net-zero, and our partnership with TVS Interfleet and our OEM partners enables us to continue our drive toward decarbonising the construction sector. 

“By bringing eHGVs into these demanding aspects of Tarmac’s operations and working with like-minded partners through eFreight 2030, it further strengthens our ability to create a greener construction supply chain.” 

Andrew Scott, product director at TVS Interfleet, says that joining eFreight 2030 enables it to extend the partnership with Tarmac, which saw it develop the UK’s first electric concrete mixer.

“As with that initiative, where we were able to develop enhanced safety systems for a familiar construction vehicle, we look forward to doing the same for the Wilcox tipping trailer,” he added.

“We look forward to working again with Tarmac to demonstrate a more sustainable future for the construction industry.” 

Michael Boxwell, group chief executive officer at Voltempo, which leads the eFreight 2030 consortium, welcomed both Tarmac and TVS Interfleet to the project. 

“The addition of electric construction vehicles to the ZEHID programme, including their deployment at several of Tarmac’s Greater London sites, is an exciting milestone,” he said. 

“With TVS Interfleet, Tarmac continue to lead the decarbonisation of the construction sector and we are delighted to bring their innovation and ambition into the ZEHID programme and to further extend the reach of eHGVs into the most demanding transport sectors.”  

Read more from Fleet News on how zero emission truck trials to pave the way for decarbonisation.