Hauliers are invited to participate in a significant trial aimed at advancing electric HGV adoption, initiated by The Centre for Sustainable Road Freight (SRF).
- The Joint Operator Logistics Trial (JOLT) seeks to aid operators in transitioning to electric fleets by offering shared access to electric vehicles and mobile chargers.
- John Lewis Partnership, Volvo Trucks UK, and Flexible Power Systems are already participants in this initiative, lending real-world testing to the electric transition.
- Cambridge University and Heriot-Watt University experts will analyse data to evaluate electric HGV performance, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.
- The trial, open to all operators, encourages contribution of existing electric vehicle data or utilisation of shared resources.
The Centre for Sustainable Road Freight (SRF) has issued a call to hauliers across the nation to join the Joint Operator Logistics Trial (JOLT), a pioneering initiative to facilitate the transition of heavy goods vehicle (HGV) fleets from fossil fuels to electric power. This project is designed to accumulate valuable data and insights that will assist operators in making informed investment decisions regarding the electrification of their fleets.
Participants of the JOLT programme, including John Lewis Partnerships and Volvo Trucks UK, are set to explore and critically assess the operational capabilities of electric heavy goods vehicles. With shared access to a fleet of electric vehicles and mobile chargers, partners will conduct agreed sequences of trials, testing the logistics and feasibility of integrating electric vehicles into their operations.
Notably, John Lewis Partnership is trialling a Volvo electric FM 4×2 tractor unit capable of transporting up to 42 tonnes over distances reaching 300km per single charge. Justin Laney, the general manager of central transport at John Lewis Partnership, emphasised the importance of this transition, underscoring their goal of achieving a zero-carbon fleet by 2035.
The analytical expertise of Cambridge University and Heriot-Watt University will be employed to scrutinise various metrics, such as vehicle performance, charger efficiency, and operational costs, across multiple industry sectors. This rigorous academic involvement aims to broaden understanding of how electric HGVs might impact operational efficiency and supply chain dynamics.
The project welcomes all HGV operators, either through data contribution from their existing electric vehicles or by utilising the pooled fleet resources supplied by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). This openness is designed to cultivate a diverse range of data, providing a comprehensive overview of electric freight’s potential.
Participation in JOLT represents a crucial opportunity for hauliers to contribute to the decarbonisation of freight transport.
