We start our research into electric trucks for silent delivery. How many years later can we put this into practice...?

We build the first hybrid diesel-electric truck in Europe, but with limited operational use.

We open our first hydrogen refuelling station (with on-site hydrogen production) for our forklift trucks at Dassenveld.

Our first electric terminal tractor is in operation.

We launch our first internal Zero Emission Transport roadmap. We open our first public hydrogen refuelling station.

We perform a test with the first 44-tonne hydrogen truck in the EU, developed by our partner VDL.

The research we started in 2005 pays off! We are the first retailer to test silent delivery with a battery-electric 44-tonne truck.

We make our ambitions for zero emission transport public.

We commission new, 100% electric vehicles: one 44-tonne truck and five refrigerated box trucks. We are now also using a new electric terminal tractor at our distribution centre in Ghislenghien.

At Dassenveld, a 350 kWe fast charger for electric lorries is put into use. Collect&Go now delivers with seven electric vans and one electric cargo bike. In Londerzeel, 20 vehicles can charge simultaneously at the new charging area. Nestlé and Colruyt Group go electric with a brand-new, 100% electric truck for inbound deliveries.

In January, we will start a pilot project with a new 44-tonne e-truck. Unlike our first 100% electric truck, the new one has a double axle to support the weight of the battery, allowing us to load it as heavily as conventional trucks. This way, we avoid 100 extra trips per day. The new e-truck is longer than the maximum allowed length of 16.5 meters, but the Flemish government granted us permission in November 2024 to test it on public roads.

Zero emission transport for goods

We are making our freight transport ever more sustainable. By 2035, all the freight transport carried out by and for Colruyt Group will be zero-emission across the entire value chain. With zero emission transport, we want to reduce our emission of greenhouse gasses in the field of freight transport to zero.

This initiative contributes to our objectives regarding

Updated on 31/07/2024

Zero emission transport by 2035

To reduce our emission of greenhouse gasses by 42% by 2030 (compared to 2021), we take on one of our biggest emission hotspots: transport. By 2030 we will make our own freight transport zero-emission: battery-electric or hydrogen-electric vehicles with no emissions at all. By 2035, we take the next step: our goods transport will run entirely on green electricity and hydrogen.

Our transport objectives in a nutshell.

Together towards zero-emission

We do not only want to make the transfer towards zero emission transport for our fleet. We also want to involve our suppliers and transport partners on this journey. All the transport carried out by our drivers, suppliers, and transport partners for Colruyt Group will be completely emission-free by 2035. In concrete, it concerns the delivery of goods to our distribution centres, stores and customers.

Impact of zero emission transport

Around 1,200 optimally filled trucks hit the road to supply our stores daily. Combined, our drivers cover up to 200,000 kilometres a day. That is five times around the earth. The zero emission transport will green all those kilometres. From 2035, if you buy a product from one of our stores, you will be sure that it has reached our shelves or gets delivered to your home completely emission-free.

How do we realise zero emission transport?

For our fleet, we commit fully to battery-electric and hydrogen-electric zero emission vehicles, the first step towards our ambition.

DATS 24 laadpalen voor elektrische voertuigen

We have the internal expertise to realise zero emission transport across the entire value chain.

DATS 24 has experience in the distribution of fuels and the development of charging infrastructure.
For years, Virya Energy has been producing renewable electricity. It is now increasingly focussing on green hydrogen.

We also want to share our expertise. To that end, we enter into dialogue with the transport partners that drive for us and our suppliers that directly sell and deliver goods to Colruyt Group.

Colruyt Group has been pioneering the electrification of transport for 19 years

An overview of the steps we took over the years

2005

We start our research into electric trucks for silent delivery.

How many years later can we put this into practice...?
2010

We build the first hybrid diesel-electric truck in Europe, but with limited operational use.
2012

We open our first hydrogen refuelling station (with on-site hydrogen production) for our forklift trucks at Dassenveld.
2015

Our first electric terminal tractor is in operation.
2018
- We launch our first internal Zero Emission Transport roadmap.
- We open our first public hydrogen refuelling station.
2020

We perform a test with the first 44-tonne hydrogen truck in the EU, developed by our partner VDL.
2021

The research we started in 2005 pays off! We are the first retailer to test silent delivery with a battery-electric 44-tonne truck.
2022

We make our ambitions for zero emission transport public.
2023
- We commission new, 100% electric vehicles: one 44-tonne truck and five refrigerated box trucks.
- We are now also using a new electric terminal tractor at our distribution centre in Ghislenghien.
2024
- At Dassenveld, a 350 kWe fast charger for electric lorries is put into use.
- Collect&Go now delivers with seven electric vans and one electric cargo bike. In Londerzeel, 20 vehicles can charge simultaneously at the new charging area.
- Nestlé and Colruyt Group go electric with a brand-new, 100% electric truck for inbound deliveries.
2025

In January, we will start a pilot project with a new 44-tonne e-truck. Unlike our first 100% electric truck, the new one has a double axle to support the weight of the battery, allowing us to load it as heavily as conventional trucks. This way, we avoid 100 extra trips per day. The new e-truck is longer than the maximum allowed length of 16.5 meters, but the Flemish government granted us permission in November 2024 to test it on public roads.