DP World business Imperial Logistics International has taken on an electric Volvo 4x2 tractor unit, which it described as a “learning curve” to discover if electricity was fit for purpose.

The vehicle has been taken on from Dawsongroup on a four-year contract hire arrangement and the firm said it was now working on a localised logistics programme for an unnamed DP World customer.

Neil Herring, operations director at the company’s Oxford base said: “The ever-closer end of the diesel engine in transport, probably now just a couple of fleet renewals away for many operators, means we need to be ready for the future.

“Already, our intensive operations at Oxford for a major automotive company mean we cannot sit back and wait for others to lead the way.

“Sustainability is of paramount importance to us, encompassing as it must such issues as the environment, working conditions, economics and the developing importance of global trade.”

Transport manager Dave Munday said driver feedback had so far been positive.

“Like everyone else in this sector, we share the concerns over the UK’s inadequate recharging infrastructure at the moment,” he added.

“This is less important to us at this stage, as we are running our trials initially over shorter distances, but we plan to extend these as we learn what is possible without risking on-time delivery schedules.

“One element that we know will now have a much-heightened level of importance is route planning. What is ideal for a diesel engined truck might be wrong for the electric vehicle, though it’s quite possible this sharpened focus will deliver improvements for both!”

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