Lidl becomes first food retailer to launch new EV and HVO vehicles into ROI logistics fleet
Powered by 100% fully traceable renewable solar generated electricity, Lidl’s first electric powered truck will take to the roads in July this year
Print21 June 2022
Lidl Ireland is set to rollout the first electrical truck and hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) heavy goods vehicle (HGV) into its logistics fleet.
The pilot scheme will see the sustainably powered vehicles join Lidl’s logistic fleet at its Newbridge Regional Distribution Centre (RDC), commencing the retailer’s transition from fossil fuel commercial vehicles to more environmentally friendly vehicles. Lidl says this latest move forms part of its commitment to becoming a carbon neutral business by 2025, alongside the ongoing journey to a 46% reduction in its operational emissions by 2030.
This move is a first in the Irish food retail industry in conjunction with refrigerated delivery suppliers, Zellwood Ltd. The introduction of the new logistics trucks is the initial steps to a larger rollout across the retailer’s logistics fleet that deliver to Lidl’s four distribution centres and over 200 Lidl stores throughout the island of Ireland, on a daily basis. In 2021, Lidl Irelands logistic fleet covered over 16.8million kilometres which is the equivalent to 21 return trips to the moon.
Lidl Ireland says it has already been working to improve lowering its carbon footprint by actively participating in fuel use monitoring and reduction schemes over the past number of years, which has seen substantial reduction, even in fossil fuel use through a best-in-class fleet and engines used for Lidl deliveries.
“As a leading retailer it is our responsibility to not only offer the best service and price for our customers, suppliers, and communities, but to protect the environment and build a successful, sustainable future,” saidRobert Ryan, chief operating officer, Lidl Ireland & Northern Ireland.
“Not only does it accelerate our journey to cleaner roads, but in turn with the soaring cost of fossil fuels like diesel it will keep prices down for our customers,” he added. “We are looking forward to the journey ahead to scale up adaption across our entire fleet aligning to our sustainable environmental commitments and goals.”
Lidl’s first electric powered truck will take to the roads in July this year and will be powered by 100% fully traceable renewable solar generated electricity that is produced at the Newbridge regional distribution centres and will accelerate the retailers’ transition to a zero-emission fleet.
The hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) vehicle, is currently part of the fleet and will reduce emissions by 90% per trip by using 100% renewable fuel[1] produced by the hydrotreatment of vegetable oil that create a fuel product with the same chemical structure as diesel.
Meanwhile, the sustainably fuelled truck is estimated to reduce emissions in the order of 121.75t carbon dioxide equivalents (tCO2e) in a full year’s deliveries and will also see benefits such as the reduction of particulates and NOx (Noxious diesel emissions) which are hazardous emissions that naturally occur from the use of fossil fuels in vehicles.
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