UK | Maritime Transport and Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) have reached a significant milestone in decarbonising road freight, with the first fully electric heavy goods vehicle (eHGV) now operating across CCEP’s GB logistics network.
The partnership has focused on making electrification work in practice. The two companies worked collaboratively to optimise deliveries and routes, providing the proof of concept that eHGVs can transport soft drink payloads.
The deployment marked a new phase in the long-standing partnership between the two companies and, for the first time, integrates electric road transport into CCEP’s GB domestic supply chain as part of its wider ambition to reduce value chain emissions through its sustainability action plan.
The Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 entered service in January and now operates on dedicated delivery routes from CCEP’s manufacturing site in Wakefield, Europe’s largest soft drinks plant by volume. Running five days a week, the vehicle completes multi-drop deliveries, supplying soft drinks to convenience and wholesale customers.
The nature of the work, with planned routes and consistent payloads, makes it well-suited to electrification. The vehicle is currently operating as a proof of concept, with performance being closely monitored as both businesses assess how electric vehicles can be applied more widely across CCEP’s network.
Since entering service, the eHGV has travelled more than 7,000 miles, saving an estimated 12.43 tonnes of CO2e compared to equivalent diesel journeys.
Charging takes place at Maritime’s transport depot in Wakefield, where high-powered infrastructure has already been installed to support the company’s growing electric fleet, using electricity sourced from 100 percent renewable energy across the business.
The initiative forms part of Maritime’s wider investment in decarbonising road freight through Maritime ZERO, its zero-emission road transport division.
Delivered in part through the government-backed Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID) programme, Maritime is introducing 56 eHGVs across its national network during 2026, alongside the development of one of the country’s largest independent charging networks with more than 22MW of installed power once complete.
Rollout is already underway, with 12 eHGVs now in operation at Wakefield – the first site to go live, a further 10 based at Maritime’s rail terminal in Tamworth, and two eHGVs at East Midlands Gateway. Additional locations will follow and be energised over the coming weeks and months.
Maritime and CCEP are now exploring opportunities to expand the use of eHGVs, including the potential deployment of additional vehicles in the South as Maritime’s charging infrastructure develops and as the initial deployment is evaluated.
