en.Wedoany.com Report on Mar 21st, The New Zealand grocery cooperative Foodstuffs North Island has recently added an electric heavy-duty truck to its refrigerated freight fleet, with plans to put it into operation starting next week. This electric truck, named Deepway Star, will depart from the Palmerston North distribution center to deliver frozen and chilled food to stores in the lower North Island region.

This electric heavy-duty truck was jointly developed by Baidu and Lionbridge in Hefei, China, specifically designed for zero-carbon logistics. It is the first electric heavy-duty vehicle in Foodstuffs' temperature-controlled distribution network. It will tow an electric refrigerated trailer launched in 2024, achieving full electric drive for the entire transport unit.

Sandy Botterill, Head of ESG at Foodstuffs, pointed out that the electrification of heavy-duty freight is a key measure for emission reduction: "Approximately 70% of Foodstuffs' Scope 1 and 2 emissions come from the supply chain fleet, so transitioning heavy-duty vehicles from diesel to electric is crucial." She added: "We have set a target to reduce emissions by 42% by 2030 compared to the 2020 baseline. Projects like this help achieve that goal."

According to Foodstuffs' data, switching from a diesel truck to an electric heavy-duty truck can reduce operational emissions by about 85%, thanks to New Zealand's grid which is predominantly powered by renewable energy. Carbon Management Manager Ben Riordan stated: "A comparable diesel truck would produce about 750 kg of carbon emissions per day on this route, while the electric truck, powered by the grid, produces only about 80 kg. This is equivalent to a reduction of about 200 tons of carbon emissions per year."

This electric heavy-duty truck will perform two delivery trips per day, operating six days a week. It will complete a 200 km round trip to stores on the Kāpiti Coast in the morning. After a 90-minute charge, it will make another round trip in the afternoon to other locations in the lower North Island, covering 280 km.

Chris Quin, CEO of Foodstuffs North Island, emphasized that this investment supports sustainability and enhances operational resilience: "Against the backdrop of global fuel price uncertainty, the shift to electric trucks makes increasing sense. It benefits the environment, improves supply chain resilience, and is expected to lower operational costs, ultimately benefiting customers."

Fleet Safety and Compliance Officer Chris King mentioned that the vehicle performed well in 2025 trials: "It delivers strong torque, suitable for heavy loads on steep sections. The driving experience is quiet and smooth, and the regenerative braking system reduces heavy braking, helping to alleviate driver fatigue."

Foodstuffs operates one of New Zealand's largest grocery supply chains, with five distribution centers and trucks covering approximately 30 million kilometers annually. The specifications of the electric heavy-duty truck include: a 600kWh lithium iron phosphate battery, a 400 km range under a 44-ton load, 224kW continuous power, and 30,000Nm continuous torque, with a total combined mass of 50,000 kg.