Haulage firm ET Morris & Sons has successfully transported the first load of fossil-free steel to land in the UK, using a Volvo FM Electric 4x2 tractor unit for a zero-tailpipe emission delivery.
Produced by Swedish company SSAB, the steel was collected from the TSG Terminal at Hull docks and taken to the customer site in Brighouse, West Yorkshire – a 160-mile round trip.
The FM Electric demonstrator used for the special delivery was supplied by Gareth Stone, Sales Director at Crossroads Truck & Bus. Its drivability and performance impressed ET Morris & Sons, which is exploring ways to decarbonise its 25-strong 100 per cent Volvo fleet.
Jeremy Morris, Owner, ET Morris & Sons, says:
“We do lots of work for SSAB but this was the first load of this new green steel that we have delivered.
To mark its arrival, they wanted it to be delivered using electric technology. We have a close relationship with Gareth and the team at Crossroads, and they kindly offered the use of their electric demonstrator.
It was interesting to see how the electric truck performed. It did the job with no difficulties. The driver enjoyed the experience and, with further advances in the technology, it’s something we’ll explore further in the future.”
Volvo Trucks committed to cutting carbon across its operations
Volvo has introduced SSAB’s fossil-free steel into the build of its heavy-duty electric trucks – the first manufacturer in the world to do so.
The metal, named SSAB Zero, is made from recycled material and produced using fossil-free electricity and biogas. As a result, CO2 is reduced by around 80% compared to the production of conventional steel using fossil energy.
The steel is used mainly in the frame rails, the backbone of the truck upon which all other main components are mounted. As the availability of the low-carbon steel increases, it will also be introduced in other parts of the vehicles.
Volvo Trucks is committed to the Paris agreement and to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in the supply chain by 2040, at the latest.
