Tarmac plans eHGV fleet and DC charging network for construction logistics

Tarmac has announced plans to introduce a fleet of electric HGVs alongside a dedicated charging network to support the transport of cement, asphalt, aggregates and concrete blocks. Five eHGVs will enter operation in collaboration with Renault Trucks and DAF Trucks, serving construction and major infrastructure projects across London and the South East. The initiative is supported by the government’s Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Development (ZEHID) programme, which provides £200 million in funding through the Department for Transport and Innovate UK.

According to Tarmac, the charging infrastructure has been deliberately concentrated around its largest production sites in the South East, where demand for zero-emission deliveries is expected to emerge first. “We have built our charging network around the key South East market at some of our largest plants where we expect customer demand for EV deliveries to be strongest,” explained Ben Garner, Director of Logistics at Tarmac.

Garner added that the network has been designed with operational flexibility in mind: “The network has been strategically built around the city so that any truck based within or outside Greater London can easily drop into a Tarmac site to charge and extend their range.” A particular focus has been placed on sites around the Lower Thames Crossing, which Tarmac sees as an early-adoption corridor for electric freight.

Megawatt charging backbone

As part of the eFREIGHT 2030 consortium, Tarmac is working with cross-industry partners and charging specialist Voltempo to develop the network. The infrastructure will become operational in early 2026. The rollout builds on the company’s deployment of electric ready-mix concrete vehicles, which have been operating since 2022. The charging network incorporates Voltempo chargers at Tarmac’s Paddington concrete plant, Harper Lane asphalt plant, Linford blocks plant and the Northfleet HGV base in Kent, as well as a Fleete Group charging hub at the Port of Tilbury.

Some of the charging stations will be accessible to other members of the eFREIGHT 2030 consortium from day one. “As we are part of the eFreight2030 consortium, some of the charging stations will be opened to other consortium members – likewise we can use their facilities,” said Garner. He noted that this will not be possible at the Northfleet site due to access constraints, but added that Tarmac is exploring local partnerships to allow neighbouring operators to make use of its infrastructure.

A 250 kW DC charger at the Paddington site will enable the eHGVs to charge during offloading. In Northfleet, a Voltempo HyperCharger Megawatt Charging System will provide up to 1 MW for a single truck or distribute the same capacity dynamically across six vehicles.

The network is designed for high-power charging to maximise vehicle utilisation. “This is a fast-charging network which allows us to quickly extend range and/or double-shift our fleet,” Garner said. Tarmac plans to introduce electric aggregates and asphalt trucks to demonstrate round-the-clock operation, including overnight use.

Economics, regulation and payload limits shape scale-up

Operational trials will focus on replicating diesel-equivalent duty cycles. “Success is really around understanding the models that work,” said Garner. “Can we double-shift an electric truck, can we extend the range mid-shift during a driver break, and in the case of our bulk cement truck we’ll be extending range by charging while it is offloading.” He added that proving these use cases would demonstrate that battery-electric HGVs can meet all of Tarmac’s operational requirements.

“These significant new additions to our electric fleet, together with a London-wide charging network, mean that we’re scaling electrification and helping customers cut carbon across construction logistics”, said Garner. He added that the move enables multi-modal, low-carbon deliveries using rail for inbound materials and eHGVs for onward transport.

Tarmac’s Director of Logistics stressed that the ZEHID funding has been critical to the pace of deployment. “The cost of upgrading power supplies and installing chargers is very high, so I can say with certainty we wouldn’t be moving this fast without the funding that has been provided,” he said.

From a commercial perspective, Tarmac believes electric trucks are already competitive under the right conditions. “We have previously shown in our own trials that electric trucks can operate at the same total cost of ownership as diesel trucks, and this will only improve,” said Garner. However, he warned that regulatory barriers remain, pointing to high electricity prices, grid upgrade costs and payload penalties. “We lose up to four tonnes of payload with an electric vehicle, meaning we need up to 20 per cent more trucks to move the same amount of product.”

Garner argued that regulatory changes could unlock faster adoption, including broader payload dispensations or allowing five-axle rigid electric trucks. “These spread weight over an additional axle so have no greater impact on the road surface while allowing us to run EV trucks heavier than their diesel counterparts. If we could run five-axle electric vehicles, we would all go electric tomorrow,” he said.

Tarmac recently added Scotland’s first electric concrete mixer following a two-month trial, operating mainly across the Central Belt. Developed with Renault Trucks and TVS Interfleet, the vehicle forms part of a national programme to accelerate the transition to zero-emission heavy-duty transport.

The fully electric concrete mixer is likely the one based on Renault Trucks’ E-Tech C and was first unveiled at the Bauma trade fair in Germany in April. According to the manufacturer, the electric mixer can carry up to 10 m3 of concrete, which is allegedly more than any diesel equivalent ‘in most European countries.’ The electric mixer has a range of up to 110 kilometres on one charge or up to 140 kilometres with a 45-minute intermediate charge.

Four additional electric mixers are already in operation in England. Tom Preston, Readymix Business Manager for Scotland at Tarmac, said the introduction supports ‘cleaner air, lower emissions and more sustainable deliveries across the Central Belt.’ Dan Whiley, National Logistics Optimisation and Development Manager at Tarmac, said the deployment is ‘a significant milestone’ in building a nationwide low-carbon fleet.

To reduce risk for hauliers, Tarmac has also launched an eMixer Discovery Programme with Renault Trucks. Under the scheme, operators can lease an electric concrete mixer for six months at a cost comparable to diesel. “Buying your first electric truck is a massive risk,” said Garner. “This allows hauliers to try it in a low-risk way, understand how it works and what they need to do differently.”

Garner added that driver feedback has been overwhelmingly positive: “I’m yet to meet a driver who doesn’t prefer driving an electric truck. It’s really about spreading knowledge and creating advocates so we can accelerate EV uptake when market conditions are right.”The Optimisation and Development Manager at Tarmac, said the deployment is ‘a significant milestone’ in building a nationwide low-carbon fleet.

transportandenergy.com (charging network), tarmac.com (concrete mixer)