Major supermarket and retail chain Coles has made the bold claim that it has become Australia’s first retailer to introduce an battery electric prime mover to its transportation network, with the the addition of a heavy-duty Volvo FH Electric to the fleet, declaring that it is now delivering groceries to many of its stores across Victoria.
Coles battery electric truck move is In partnership with transport and logistics giant, Linfox, which will operate the electric truck, which the companies claim will save more than 65 tonnes of CO21emissions per year, when compared to a regular diesel-powered prime mover, which they say is the equivalent of removing 15 cars from the road. Coles claims the calculation is based on using 25,000 litres with a 0.00268 Carbon factor, while the assumption that it is the equivalent of removing 15 cars is calculated based on a small car in Australia with a fuel efficiency of 4.3L per 100Km.
The company says it expects to make up to 25 deliveries from the Coles Distribution Centre in Victoria to stores across the state each week,
The Volvo FH electric, has a claimed travel range of up to 300km on a single charge and Coles and Linfiox reckon is will save approximately 25,000 litres of fuel every year3. Coles explains that this is calculated on an estimated electric prime mover travelling 90,000km per year
Clearly with out a diesel engine, the recent introduced electric prime mover will not only reduce fuel consumption and emissions, it will also run more quietly, which the companies say will reduce noise pollution, particularly during store deliveries for customers in residential areas. However, it is unlikely that a 40 tonne prime mover and trailer combo would be found doing residential deliveries. Where it will be valuable is when waiting at Supermarket delivery docks and in other confined spaces where it won’t have to idle a diesel to run fridge units etc., which will eliminate more emissions and fuel consumption.
Coles chief operations and sustainability officer Matt Swindells said the EV is another step in the retailer’s decarbonisation journey, as it continues to work with partners to reduce its Scope 3 emissions which occur in the retailer’s supply chain and make up the majority of its overall emissions profile.
“We’re excited to welcome our first EV prime mover to our network which is currently doing about 25 deliveries from our Distribution Centre in Victoria each week to hundreds of stores across the state,” said Swindells.
“Not only will it prevent more than 65 tonnes of CO2 emissions every year, or the equivalent of removing 15 cars from our roads, it will save approximately 25,000 litres of fuel annually and is quieter to run, meaning reduced noise pollution for our customers,” he added.
“Linfox has been an early adopter of EV transport technology, and we’re pleased to be partnering with them to lower emissions on our roads, as well as in our supply chain, and contribute to driving change in the industry.”
Linfox CEO for Australia and New Zealand, Mark Mazurek said the announcement represented a significant and exciting milestone in Coles and Linfox’s ongoing efforts to reduce their carbon footprints and create a more sustainable future.
“Linfox is proud to work with Coles to reduce our carbon footprint. Without their commitment to sustainability and adaptability, this wouldn’t be possible,” said Mazurek.
“This fully electric prime mover is charged on site and is at the forefront of automotive technology. Over the past two years we’ve worked with Coles, Government and agencies to bring it to our roads, and we’re proud to be leading the industry towards a more sustainable future.”
In 2023 Coles announced that it was working with at least 75 per cent of its suppliers by spend to set science-based emissions reduction targets by the end of June 20275 as part of its Scope 3 emissions supplier engagement target. The company claims that this figure coverers purchased goods and services and upstream transportation and distribution. It added that its supplier engagement target commits that 75 per cent of Coles’ suppliers by spend covering purchased goods and services
To help further reduce emissions in its supply chain, the retailer’s first electric online delivery van is currently running deliveries in Queensland as part of a trial. It adds that an EV heavy rigid truck is also delivering groceries to stores out of its distribution centre in Sydney and ten electric refrigeration vans are taking part in a trial designed to reduce emissions and fuel usage.
