Coles becomes first Aussie retailer to add electric prime mover truck to its grocery delivery network

November 4, 2024 -- Coles has become the country’s first retailer to welcome an electric prime mover truck to its transportation network, with the heavy-duty vehicle now delivering groceries to hundreds of stores across Victoria.

In partnership with Linfox, the Electric Vehicle (EV) will save more than 65 tonnes of CO21 emissions per year compared to a regular diesel-powered prime mover, which is the equivalent of removing 15 cars2 from the road.

Expected to make up to 25 deliveries from the Coles Distribution Centre in Victoria to stores across the state each week, the Volvo FH, awarded the International Truck of the Year 2024, can travel up to 300km on a single charge and will save approximately 25,000 litres of fuel every year3.

In addition to fuel and emission reductions, the EV is quieter to run, reducing noise pollution during store deliveries for customers in residential areas, and requires no idling, eliminating further 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 Matt.

“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 Australia and New Zealand Mark Mazurek said today’s 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 Mark.

“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% of its suppliers by spend4 to set science-based emissions reduction targets by the end of June 20275 as part of its Scope 3 emissions supplier engagement target.

To help further reduce emissions in its supply chain, the retailer’s first electric Coles Online delivery van is currently running deliveries in Queensland as part of a trial. 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. 

L-R Coles Chief Operations & Sustainability Officer Matt Swindells with Linfox Chief Executive Officer Mark Mazurek

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