Tarmac, the UK’s leading sustainable building materials and construction solutions provider, has successfully completed a three-month trial of commercial deliveries across Birmingham with its all-electric ready-mix concrete mixer.
Dubbed the ‘e-mixer’, the vehicle is the first of its kind to operate anywhere in the UK with zero tailpipe emissions. Developed in partnership with Renault Trucks and TVS Interfleet, the mixer is expected to save 42 tonnes of CO2 annually and has zero emissions per mile, compared to 1.55 kg of CO2 per mile for its fossil fuel equivalent. The successful trial is a significant milestone for both Tarmac and the UK construction sector, as it moves towards net-zero construction.
The e-mixer is part of Tarmac’s strategy to develop integrated low carbon logistics by offering decarbonised transport for the last mile of a construction project. The vehicle builds on Tarmac’s extensive logistics network which includes more than 60 rail connected sites across the UK. It also contributes to improving air quality, particularly when operating in urban areas and low and zero emissions zones, such as Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone.
The vehicle’s development involved the creation of an entirely new digital operating system, alongside improved safety measures during operation. The e-mixer also boasts reduced noise and vibrations, increased energy savings, and a longer lifespan compared to its traditional internal combustion engine counterparts. As part of the partnership, TVS Interfleet created a mixer with several new patents, which enhances safety and operation efficiency.
The e-mixer was awarded the BAA Award for Safety and Innovation at The UK Concrete Show in March 2023. The successful launch of the vehicle was made possible through a collaborative approach undertaken by all three companies. Tarmac continues to work with Renault Trucks and TVS Interfleet to develop the next generation of mixers, with ambitions for their eventual widespread use across its urban operations as part of its Act Sustainability Strategy and commitment to be a net-zero business by 2050.
Tarmac’s low carbon logistics lead, Ben Garner, expressed the company’s commitment to being at the forefront of implementing low CO2 transport and logistics solutions. With the arrival of the new e-mixer, Tarmac is offering something completely new to the market, demonstrating that a fully integrated low carbon logistics model is possible. The successful operation of the e-mixer marks a significant milestone in the construction sector’s journey towards a sustainable future.
