Marks & Spencer (M&S) has expanded its low-emission logistics fleet with the introduction of ten new electric heavy goods vehicles.

The retailer said this includes the first electric truck deployed in the UK to power its refrigerated trailer directly from the vehicle's battery.

M&S said it will deploy the new DAF XD electric trucks across its food, fashion, home and beauty logistics operations as part of its Plan A strategy to reach net zero by 2040.

One of the vehicles features integrated inverter technology developed through the eFREIGHT 2030 project, which forms part of the UK Government's Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure programme. The system converts power from the truck's main battery to run the trailer's refrigeration unit, removing the need for a separate diesel-powered refrigeration system on chilled deliveries.

M&S said the technology represents a significant step towards fully electrified freight transport by reducing diesel use during refrigerated journeys.

Five of the new electric HGVs have already entered service, with the remaining five due to join the fleet later this year.

The latest additions build on M&S' existing fleet of zero-tailpipe emission vehicles, which already includes eight battery electric articulated HGVs and five battery electric rigid trucks.

The new vehicles will operate at weights of between 32 and 42 tonnes and are expected to achieve daily ranges of between 250 and 300 miles, depending on route, payload, and operating conditions.

The retailer said the investment forms part of a broader programme to modernise its supply chain and trial technologies that reduce the environmental impact of transporting products between distribution centres and stores.

The eFREIGHT 2030 consortium is one of several projects supported through the Department for Transport's Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID) programme, which aims to accelerate the adoption of zero-emission heavy goods vehicles and the charging infrastructure needed to support them.

"Adapting our logistics network is vital in achieving our Plan A Net Zero ambitions,” said Mick Pethard, group fleet manager at M&S. “We're committed to reducing carbon emissions from our transport and, through collaboration with Gist and DAF, we are able to trial new technologies, reduce carbon, save energy and drive operational efficiencies across the business."

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