In a major step towards greener logistics, Kuehne+Nagel has completed the first cross-Channel freight journey using a heavy-duty electric truck. Teaming up with Renault Trucks and P&O Ferries, the fully electric Renault Trucks E-Tech T carried freight from the UK to France via ferry – a first for zero-emission transport of this kind.

The truck set off from Kuehne+Nagel’s East Midlands Gateway site in Derbyshire and travelled to Amiens, France, with a ferry crossing from Dover to Calais. Operated aboard the P&O Liberté – a hybrid ferry with 40% lower emissions than standard vessels – the journey marked a significant advancement in low-carbon freight solutions.

Following unloading, reloading and recharging in France, the electric vehicle returned to the UK, completing a round trip of 1,100 km. The project not only demonstrated the operational reliability of electric trucks on international routes but also confirmed ferry transport as a safe and compliant option for heavy-duty EVs crossing the Channel.

This pioneering journey aims to pave the way for wider adoption of electric haulage and to position key trade routes like Dover-Calais as future-ready green freight corridors. The collaboration highlights the growing potential for decarbonised transport between the UK and mainland Europe.