New trial from ECS combines electric freight transport with rail

Intermodal transport and supply chain logistics provider, ECS, is deploying electric trucks on UK roads in-and-around London.

The deployment is part of a wider strategy from the brand to prioritise rail for transport where possible, with the electric trucks only used for the first and last mile for deliveries.

Working with KBC Logistics, ECS has launched a 16-month trial for this initiative where two electric trucks will be used to transport products from building materials to consumer goods in the London region. The brand believes that London, with its dense population, provides an ideal location for this trial. 

CEO of ECS, Sven Pieters, said: “Sustainability is embedded in our DNA. We therefore resolutely choose to use rail for as much transport as possible. Of course, this means we need an alternative for the first and last kilometres.

“We are convinced that the capabilities of electric trucks lend themselves perfectly to those short distances.”

According to ECS, the electric trucks have, in the last three months, travelled 14,775 kilometres so far; delivering up to 329 units (all on-time) from the ports of P&O Tilbury and CLdN Purfleet to 12 distinct ECS customers.

The company also noted that the range of the trucks far exceeded original expectations, achieving more than 250km after an initial estimate of 200km, thanks to additional measures and implementations like extensive route mapping and driving adjustments to ensure maximum efficiency.

With its combination of rail and electric freight transport, ECS is working to make its supply chain more sustainable by minimising its road mileage and reducing CO2 emissions.

With the ongoing trial, the company is working to gather data that can be analysed to determine whether it will expand its use of electric trucks into the future.

“That choice is anything but easy, as technology is developing at a lightning pace,” Pieters continued.

“The electric trucks that we will see on the road in two years' time will look very different from today's. In a few years, we won't be mentioning the limitations that are still in place today.

“Driving range will increase, battery weight will decrease, and trucks will be custom-built for maximum payload capacity. Hence, we want to gather as much information as possible at this moment, so that we can make thoughtful decisions for a sustainable future.”

This trial takes place as a new study suggests that electric trucks are becoming cheaper than their diesel counterparts and the Government commits to decarbonising transport around the UK over the next three years.