Tesco has introduced five new battery and solar powered refrigerated delivery vehicles to its Peterborough distribution centre fleet.

The supermarket chain partnered with British engineering company Sunswap to develop these units as part of its ongoing commitment to reduce operational carbon emissions.

These innovative lorries will replace conventional diesel powered refrigeration systems, enabling Tesco to significantly decrease emissions associated with food transportation, including when vehicles are stationary. The system combines roof mounted solar panels with modular battery technology to maintain temperature controlled environments for chilled and frozen goods without diesel consumption.

A key feature of the new vehicles is their ability to simultaneously transport goods at three different temperature ranges - chilled, ambient and frozen - during a single delivery route. The rollout follows a successful 2023 trial that tested performance across various weather conditions, including peak summer temperatures.

Cliff Smith, fleet engineering manager at Tesco, stated: "We're committed to achieving carbon neutrality across our own operations by 2035 and net zero across our entire value chain by 2050. These vehicles represent an important step towards those goals."

This initiative follows Tesco's 2023 agreement to purchase solar power from the Cleve Hill solar park in Kent, described as the UK's largest corporate solar power deal. The arrangement will supply nearly two thirds of the solar park's output to Tesco, meeting up to 10 per cent of the retailer's UK electricity needs over 15 years. This renewable energy allocation could power approximately 144 large Tesco stores annually.

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