The UK’s construction industry has taken a significant step towards a more sustainable future with the successful completion of a three-month trial of the country’s first electric concrete mixer. The electric ready-mix concrete mixer was used for commercial deliveries across Birmingham for Tarmac, a UK-based sustainable construction materials firm. The e-mixer operated out of its rail-fed Birmingham Plant at Washwood Heath, and it is part of the company’s strategy to offer decarbonized last-mile transport for construction projects.
Renault Trucks and vehicle component maker TVS Interfleet partnered with Tarmac to create the e-mixer, which won the BAA Award for Safety and Innovation at The UK Concrete Show in March 2023. While neither Renault Trucks nor Tarmac provided the e-mixer’s specifications in today’s announcement, Renault claims it has the same average capacity as a conventional diesel mixer, but with zero emissions per mile compared to 1.55 kg of CO2 per mile for its fossil fuel equivalent.
See also: CEMEX Receives First Zero Emissions Electric Concrete Mixer Truck from Volvo Trucks
The production of concrete and cement is a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for around 8% of global emissions. Cement production involves the release of CO2 from the calcination of limestone, which is used as a raw material. Therefore, reducing the emissions of a concrete mixer is a crucial step towards a more sustainable construction industry.
Andrew Scott, head of electric mobility and product development at Renault Trucks UK and Ireland, said, “Renault Trucks has been delighted to partner with Tarmac and TVS Interfleet in the development of the first electric concrete mixer in the UK. Like Tarmac, we share the highest ambitions to decarbonise the construction sector and see this as the first of many zero-carbon vehicles that we can introduce together to help drive carbon out of construction.”
The success of this trial marks a significant milestone in the journey towards a more sustainable construction industry. By introducing electric concrete mixers, companies like Tarmac and Renault Trucks are demonstrating their commitment to reducing the environmental impact of construction projects. Hopefully, this is just the beginning of many innovative solutions to come that will transform the construction industry into a more sustainable one.
