Tarmac trial UK’s first EV tipper for low-emissions transport

Company working with electric truck manufacturers Tevva, alongside tipper body integrators Brit-Tipp

IN a UK first, Tarmac are trialling an all-electric tipper truck as part of their ambitious commitment to reach a 30% absolute reduction in emissions by 2030 from a 2021 baseline – decarbonizing operational equipment and plant being part of the company’s roadmap to net zero.

Working with London-based electric truck manufacturers Tevva, alongside Brit-Tipp, who completed this first electric tipper body integration, Tarmac began development of the electric tipper truck in 2022 as they looked to source alternatively fuelled HGV vehicles. As a result of this collaboration, Brit-Tipp have successfully secured type approval for all bodies on the Tevva chassis, significantly speeding up the vehicle registration process.

Switching to EV power helps to reduce emissions and boost air quality in the immediate surroundings, to the benefit of local people and the environment. Assuming a use cycle of 80 miles a day (2,500 miles a month) and a consumption of 1.31kw/h, the 7.5-tonne Tevva electric tipper truck is expected to save more than 2.2 tonnes of CO₂ per month compared with a diesel model the same size.*

Tarmac were among the early signatories of the EV100 initiative, committing that all cars and vans in their fleet would be zero emission by 2030. The EV tipper represents the latest part of this commitment, having last year brought the UK’s first all-electric battery ready-mixed concrete truck into operation, as well as the world’s first electric bond-coat sprayer.

The EV tipper truck is being trialled by Tarmac for a period of eight weeks. During this period, the business will evaluate the vehicle’s performance in practical operation as well as its range when loaded, to assess how the benefits of the technology can be maximized going forward.

Jonathan Medforth, national plant and transport manager at Tarmac, said: ‘This project represents a key milestone towards reaching our sustainability goals and underscores our commitment to reducing the environmental impact of our operations, including our road transport fleet.

‘We previously trialled an EV tipper in 2013, but its range and payload was limited due to the technology available at the time. More than a decade on, it’s exciting to see the new innovations that are making these vehicles viable.

‘It’s great to be working with Tevva on this initiative. Not only is the tipper truck a zero-emissions vehicle, but it’s also practical and a lot quieter than a diesel alternative, which is another great benefit for our drivers, customers, and the communities we work in.’

Kay Jarvis, business operations director at Tevva, said: ‘It is enormously exciting to hand over this Tevva tipper – the first of its kind – to Tarmac. This vehicle is our first collaboration in the utilities, construction, and infrastructure sector – a sector that we have prioritized – and we are thrilled to work with pioneering organizations like Tarmac.

‘The combination of Tarmac, Tevva, and Brit-Tipp serves as the foundation for Tevva becoming the go-to brand for 7.5-tonne BEV tippers. I look forward to continuing to engage with the team on the ground at Tarmac to ensure that their electrification journey is a smooth and enjoyable zero-emission experience.’