A 42-tonne fully electric articulated lorry has completed a ten-day trial moving steel from British Steel’s Teesside site to customers nationwide. Operated by long-standing haulage partner AV Dawson Transport and arranged through e-fleet specialist VEV, the vehicle clocked more than 1,800 miles across 42 separate trips, cutting 2.3 tonnes of CO₂ compared with a conventional diesel unit.
A senior representative from the steelmaker said the business chooses logistics providers with strong sustainability plans and was “pleased to see practical proof that zero-emission heavy haulage can meet the demands of our supply chain”. The exercise covered a mix of urban and motorway routes to test range, charging arrangements and real-world energy use under full payload.
Following the successful pilot, the logistics firm is assessing further electrification alongside alternative fuels as part of a wider strategy to decarbonise its fleet. It believes transitioning its HGVs could eventually eliminate millions of tonnes of greenhouse gases generated each year by industrial freight movements in the UK, while helping drivers and local communities benefit from quieter, cleaner roads.
Lower-carbon transport also delivers gains for customers. Because tailpipe emissions from contractors count towards a manufacturer’s Scope 3 footprint, every electric mile removes indirect greenhouse gases from British Steel’s balance sheet, supporting the company’s commitment to reach net-zero across its wider supply chain.
