National arable marketing business the Openfield Group is working with electric bulk haulage specialist Voltloader to trial the use of fully electric trucks to reduce the co-operative’s carbon footprint – of which the main contributor is road transport.
The partnership will see bulk grain movements from Openfield member farms to consumer customers using Voltloader’s all-electric fleet. Recent electric deliveries have been to consumer intakes at Bawsey, Long Buckby and Stoke Ferry, collected from farms in the same region as Voltloader’s base at Whittlesey in Cambridgeshire.
Voltloader uses Volvo FM Electric 4×2 tractor units equipped with a substantial 540kWh battery capacity. To optimise payload capacity, these tractors are utilised in conjunction with Weightlifter tipping trailers. The current electric truck payloads are in excess of 24 tonnes, compared to the 29 tonne maximum for diesel HGVs, while the range for trucks from one charge is around 150 miles.
However, Voltloader’s ultra-rapid 200kW charging capability at its Whittlesey site allows electric trucks to be topped up in only 90 minutes, enabling a greater daily range for vehicles. The company intends to expand its services along the A1 corridor in Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire, and further into East Anglia.
Openfield says the work with Voltloader for local deliveries will yield useful insights into what the Group needs to do to meet its overall net-zero commitment, while reducing its haulage carbon footprint in the shorter-term.
“Greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation of grain and oilseeds are the single largest contributor to Openfield’s tonnes of CO2 equivalent footprint,” advises the company’s member service director Richard Jenner. “Whilst we seek to become net-zero by 2040, we are also committed to supporting all our consumer customers and farmer members on their own journey to net zero. Using vehicles powered by diesel alternative fuel options, such as electric, HVO and biomethane, will reduce our transport emissions by 70% to 85%.”
Openfield’s new Environmental, Social and Governance plan includes a commitment for the Group to become net-zero by 2040 as the leading partner of net zero solutions for seed, fertiliser, grain and storage. Their Group’ s recent fleet expansion means that it can now move over half of its own grain, with a direct influence over the road haulage environment impact.