Middlesbrough-based logistics provider AV Dawson Transport has completed a trial of a 42-tonne fully electric HGV, clocking over 1,800 miles in just 10 days. The pilot, delivered in partnership with fleet electrification specialist VEV, demonstrated a 2.3-tonne reduction in carbon emissions across 42 commercial journeys.
The initiative is part of AV Dawson’s wider strategy to decarbonise its haulage operations, which account for over 80% of the group’s direct emissions. With the potential to slash emissions by more than 90% through full electrification, the company is now evaluating long-term integration of alternative fuel vehicles into its fleet.
The trial also has significant implications for clients, such as British Steel, by helping them reduce Scope 3 emissions, indirect emissions from their supply chain. As industrial firms face increasing pressure to meet net-zero targets, logistics partners like AV Dawson play a growing role in enabling emissions reductions across complex value chains.
VEV provided the end-to-end infrastructure for the trial, including vehicle supply, charging solutions, and real-world performance data. The company, backed by a major global energy firm, is targeting the widespread electrification of commercial fleets through managed trials and consultancy services.
With HGVs representing a large share of transport emissions in the North East—around 40%, this pilot marks a step forward for sustainable freight in one of the UK’s most industrially intensive regions.
