With good route planning the difference between operating an electric vehicle (EV) or an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle is negligible, according to Woolworths.
This has allowed the retailer to deploy its EV delivery fleet in a way that has been cost-neutral, said Woolworths’ head of sustainability, Feroz Koor.
In 2023 Woolworths, in partnership with DSV and Everlectric, added electric panel vans to its fleet for the delivery of online food purchases in SA. The retailer’s goal was to reduce its carbon footprint and promote sustainability in the retail industry.
It has rolled out electric vehicles in two categories: online home delivery, and long-haul freight refrigeration. For online food deliveries, it operates 42 EVs in Cape Town and Gauteng.
It leases the vehicles from Everlectric, which also provides maintenance and charging infrastructure, while transport and logistics company DSV manages the fleet.
“The performance of our EVs has been exemplary with negligible down-time since inception. It is estimated that our 42 electric vehicles save over 400,000kg of tailpipe carbon emissions annually,” said Koor. “The EV panel vans can drive up to 300km per charge and perform the same, in some cases better, than a normal car.”
The EVs have regenerative braking, which assists them to perform most efficiently in stop/start traffic conditions, the opposite to combustion engine vehicles. This urban efficiency, combined with the almost five cubes of space and one-tonne capacity make these delivery vehicles perfect for urban logistics, he said.
“In our use-case for EVs we mapped out delivery routes that are suitable and unsuitable for EV deployment. The decision to deploy an EV on a route is determined by the number of orders served on the route and the total distance required to deliver the orders.”
To power the vans, electricity is sourced as far as possible from renewable sources by using DSV’s solar infrastructure at their Gauteng and Cape Town facilities.
In addition to the EV delivery vehicles, Woolworths also launched AxlePower technology, in partnership with DP World. Through a specially adapted axle, kinetic energy is converted into electricity, powering the refrigeration unit on long haul trucks. The technology uses free and sustainable power resulting in zero carbon emissions from the trailer, said Koor.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.