Last Refreshed: 4/26/2024 9:58:25 AM

Ahold Delhaize will publish its first quarter 2024 results on May 8, 2024

Learn more
Back to the newsroom
Press release

First fully electric trucks on the road for Albert Heijn

May 15, 2017 – Albert Heijn is charging ahead with its commitment to sustainability with the introduction of two e-trucks to its delivery fleet in the Netherlands. These fully electric vehicles – the first to be used by the brand – are emission free, quiet and energy efficient.

The new trucks will make five to six trips a day from the distribution center in Zaandam to stock various Albert Heijn stores in Amsterdam. They have a load capacity that is comparable to diesel vehicles, though they are a bit heavier, and they required significant innovation to balance flexibility and range with loading capacity. They can be driven almost constantly, since the batteries can be charged during unloading at the DC or whenever the vehicles are idle.

Albert Heijn partnered with Simon Loos – its logistics partner since the 1960s – along with truck producer Ginaf and the municipality of Amsterdam to take this step to make transport more sustainable. The brand also uses 150 trucks powered by liquified natural gas (LNG) and is investigating options to use bio-LNG.

"The use of e-trucks fits perfectly with our ambition to drive with trucks that are cleaner, more quiet and economical," said Peter Leegstraten, Senior Consultant of Transport for Albert Heijn. “We expect it will take a couple of years before electric trucks can be used on a wide scale. For now our goal is to learn and experience how delivery with e-trucks is working."

Read the Dutch press release from Albert Heijn here.