Maritime Transport places major electric truck order

Road and rail freight logistics firm, Maritime Transport, has placed a major order for 18 battery-electric, 42-tonne tractor units.

This is the first consignment of 48 battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell trucks to be purchased and deployed across its network as a leading participant in the Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID).

These zero-emission trucks, supplied by Scania, Renault Trucks, and DAF, will be integrated into Maritime’s fleet as part of the eFREIGHT 2030 consortium, led by Voltempo.

The consortium is one of four selected to join ZEHID and is being part-funded by the UK’s Department for Transport in partnership with Innovate UK to support the freight sector on its path to Net Zero.

By 2026, there will be 11 fleets within the Voltempo consortium deploying electric HGVs and a UK-wide HGV charging network using British-built chargers. Each charge hub will provide at least six charge bays and 1MW of power.

Maritime’s latest fleet expansion is not only the largest of its kind but also the most substantial placed by any member of a ZEHID consortium to date.

Wrapped in the company’s blue and white livery, the new 4×2 trucks are fully equipped with the very latest vehicle technology and capable of delivering a range from 300km up to 500km, allowing them to serve critical functions across Maritime’s eight strategic rail freight terminals and to and from major UK ports.

The trucks are planned to arrive from late 2024 and into early 2025. Electric charging stations will also be installed across the company’s network comprising 41 transport depots, rail terminals, and dedicated container storage sites.