ECS, the market leader in intermodal transport and supply chain logistics, is taking another big step in making its supply chain more sustainable by deploying electric trucks on English roads. This is a first. During a test project that lasts 16 months, two electric trucks are covering the first and last transport miles in the London region. The initiative is part of ECS's wider strategy to use rail for as much transport as possible, with the first and last mile being traveled via truck.
Over a period of 16 months two electric trucks are being deployed to transport various products, from consumer goods to building materials, in the London region. The densely populated area, where first- and last-mile delivery is indicative of the supply chain, provides the ideal setting for this test project. For this, ECS works with KBC Logistics, a transport company offering services in container transport. KBC was ECS' first partner in the UK and now owns 350 trucks.
Three months into the project, the trucks have already covered 14,775 kilometres, transporting as many as 329 loads from the ports of P&O Tilbury and CLdN Purfleet to 12 different customers, spread across all segments of ECS' wide customer portfolio.
Electric trucks are an important asset in ECS's long-term strategy, which aims to reduce CO2 emissions and make the supply chain more sustainable.
Future investment
Many logistics players are still batting their heads when it comes to electric freight transport because of technological limitations, such as the range and weight of the batteries. ECS, however, is showing confidence in the technology. And that confidence is perpetuated by the first test results. Although the range of the trucks was initially estimated at 200 km, with an adapted driving style and a mapped route with constant traffic flow, the vehicles achieved more than 250 km, a route of 269 km being an absolute highlight. Moreover, the trucks so far registered a performance score of 100%, meaning that all deliveries were made on time.
With the hopeful results, this test counts in any case as an investment for the future. The primary goal for ECS is to gather insights. A thorough analysis after the test period will decide whether the use of electric trucks can be further expanded.
‘That choice is anything but easy, as technology is developing at a lightning pace. The electric trucks that we will see on the road in two years' time will look very different from today's,’ says Pieters. ‘In a few years, we won't be mentioning the limitations that are still in place today. Driving range will increase, battery weight will decrease and trucks will be custom-built for maximum payload capacity. Hence, we want to gather as much information as possible at this moment, so that we can make thoughtful decisions for a sustainable future.’
Rail as main transport
By deploying electric trucks for short distances, ECS can make its supply chain more sustainable without losing sight of its focus on rail transport. For its end-to-end solution for English and Irish retail, the logistics company ships to the nearest port in England to minimise road mileage and drastically reduce their CO2 emissions. Additionally, ECS also has a very extensive intermodal network on the continent. In 2024, ECS covered a whopping 73 million kilometres with its containers by rail, their ambition being to reach 100 million kilometres by 2030.
Not only is this sustainable, but also advantageous cost-wise. With its intermodal transport model, ECS will avoid costs linked to the European Trading System, a European Union cap-and-trade system against carbon emissions that will come into force from 2027 onwards. In addition, ECS continues to invest in sustainable solutions and creative methods, such as the deployment of unique ‘super mega trailers’, which can save up to 30% on transport.