DFDS has introduced a an electric truck to its operations in Shetland – the first battery-powered heavy-duty truck working on the islands.

Replacing an older diesel unit, the Volvo FM Electric 4x2 tractor unit will operate with a refrigerated trailer for cold-chain deliveries. It will predominantly move fresh salmon and seafood for onward transport to mainland Scotland, as well as completing final‑mile retail deliveries for strategic partners in Shetland.

The truck deployment in Shetland is part of the Zero Emission HGV & Infrastructure Demonstrator Programme, funded by the Department for Transport and delivered with Innovate UK.

The the Volvo FM Electric is one of 10 electric trucks DFDS now operates across the UK and Ireland.

Bryan Hepburn, Operations Manager, DFDS Scotland, says: “The early signs are very positive. This deployment shows that electric trucks really can work anywhere and are ready to deliver time sensitive goods in pristine condition, even in places with harsh climates, where reliability matters more than anything else.”

Equipped with the maximum six batteries, the truck offers a range of approximately 186 miles which is more than enough for DFDS’s local operational needs. It charges at the DFDS depot in Lerwick and at customer sites across the islands. Recent infrastructure investment has added strategically positioned charging hubs throughout Shetland, creating an ideal real‑world test-bed for grounding electric trucks in challenging conditions.

The truck will operate in Shetland for five years, covering approximately 18,650 miles annually. DFDS’s green transition ambition includes a 75% reduction in land-based emissions intensity from 2022 to 2030. As part of its effort to reach the targets, DFDS continues to develop a low emission truck fleet and at this point operates 149 electric trucks across
Europe.