AV Dawson Net Zero Transport

AV Dawson operates at the heart of the UK’s steel and automotive supply chains — sectors where electrification is considered hard to achieve due to weight, range, and operational demands. 

Before scaling electrification, AV Dawson needed to validate whether a 40-tonne electric HGV could: 

• Carry full industrial payloads 
• Complete long-distance routes without disruption 
• Integrate charging into daily operations 
• Meet customer expectations 
• Deliver meaningful carbon reductions 

The concern was not theoretical feasibility — but real-world operational viability under heavy load conditions. 

In May 2025, AV Dawson partnered with VEV to conduct a 10-day live pilot using a MAN eTGX 40t electric HGV operating from the Port of Middlesbrough. 

The trial included: 

• 20 full-load industrial trips 
• Routes across steel, automotive and containerised freight corridors 
• A temporary 40kW charging setup 
• Data monitoring via the VEV-IQ platform 

VEV supported route validation, payload planning, energy modelling, and real-time data analysis — ensuring the trial tested operational realities, not ideal conditions. 

Key performance outcomes during the pilot: 

• 1,826 km completed 
• 2.1 MWh energy consumed 
• 31% average battery margin on return to base 
• 0.9–1.02 km/kWh efficiency depending on route 

The pilot confirmed that electric HGVs are operationally viable in heavy industry today. 

• Full-payload steel and container deliveries completed successfully 
• No disruption to daily logistics 
• Strong customer support from Nissan, Tata Steel and British Steel 
• Drivers reported improved comfort and vehicle handling 
• 40 tonnes of annualised tailpipe emissions removed 

Beyond technical validation, the trial demonstrated that customers are actively encouraging lower-carbon logistics and that electrification can unlock commercial opportunity. 

The pilot positioned AV Dawson to begin its EV rollout with confidence — backed by real operational data. 

The trial explored three core industrial use cases: 

• Automotive steel coil transport (50 km routes, 17 tonnes CO₂ annualised savings if fully electrified) 
• Steel supply chain movements (5 tonnes annualised savings) 
• Local container deliveries (12 tonnes annualised savings) 

The findings reinforced that electrification success depends on intelligent planning, route matching and integrated data tools — not just vehicle hardware. 

With depot and shared charging options tested, AV Dawson now has multiple infrastructure pathways to scale electrification.