Dutch retail giant Albert Heijn has announced that it has launched a pilot project to test electric trucks that will ensure emission-free delivery of supplies to supermarkets in cities.
In association with DAF Trucks, Simon Loos, Peter Appel Transport and TNO, the retailer is testing fully electric trucks as well as plug-in hybrid trucks.
The pilot project will help in determining functional and operational requirements that are essential for zero-emission delivery of goods to supermarkets.
The move is a part of the deal - 'Green Deal Zero Emissie' (Green Deal Zero Emission) - which the retailer signed in 2014.
The Pilot Project
During the pilot, three battery-powered electric trucks, two plug-in-hybrid truck-trailer combinations, and a fast-charging infrastructure will be tested.
The most efficient emission-free equipment will be selected, based on technical, and operational efficiency, as well as organisational an financial feasibility.
The trial will be carried out for at least two years with the help of a subsidy scheme provided by the country's Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management.
The truck-trailer combination is Albert Heijn's most widely used delivery vehicle, which supplies more than 90% of its supermarkets.
Presently, there are hardly any emission-free solutions for transporting heavy goods, and those available are still in very early stages of development, the company said.
© 2019 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Dayeeta Das. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
