Kuehne+Nagel Completes Historic UK-France Electric Freight Journey

Kuehne+Nagel has marked a significant milestone in sustainable logistics by completing a cross-Channel freight transport using a fully electric truck. In collaboration with Renault Trucks and P&O Ferries, the logistics giant successfully deployed a Renault Trucks E-Tech T — a 40-tonne heavy-duty electric vehicle — to carry freight from the UK to France.

The journey began at Kuehne+Nagel’s East Midlands Gateway depot in Derbyshire and ended at its Amiens depot in northern France, crossing the English Channel via the P&O Liberté, a hybrid ferry that emits 40% less CO₂ than conventional vessels.

The electric truck covered a total round-trip distance of 1,100 km, including reloading, recharging, and return to the UK. This marks the first time a heavy-duty electric truck has completed the Dover-Calais ferry route while transporting freight.

The operation demonstrates both the practicality of long-distance electric trucking and the viability of ferry transport for electric HGVs. It also reinforces the role of intermodal solutions in cutting emissions across critical trade routes.

“This is a landmark achievement for low-emissions freight transport,” said representatives from the project partners. “It proves that electric trucks are not only operationally viable but ready for international deployment.”

By validating this key trade corridor as a potential zero-emissions route, the initiative aims to accelerate the shift toward cleaner logistics and encourage wider adoption of electric transport fleets across Europe.