Vertellus powers M&S London electric fleet expansion with EV Discovery Programme trucks

Vertellus, the OEM-backed full-service commercial vehicle contract hire and fleet management specialist, is supporting M&S in its net zero journey with the addition of two 19-tonne Renault Trucks E-Tech D Wide 4×2 rigids through its 12-month EV Discovery Programme.

Fitted with TVS box bodies and 1.5-tonne DEL tail-lifts, the new electric rigids are delivering the retailer’s own-brand fashion, home and beauty products across London, including to M&S’s store at Battersea Power Station. Selected to serve locations that cannot be accessed by larger articulated vehicles, the manoeuvrable E-Tech D Wides enable zero tailpipe emission deliveries to more urban stores, supporting cleaner air and reduced noise across the Capital.

As a specialist in de-risking fleet decarbonisation, Vertellus partners with operators like M&S to plan, deploy and optimise bodied, ready-to-work zero tailpipe emission commercial vehicles, combining manufacturer-backed expertise from the Renault Trucks network with a fully managed, end-to-end service. Its EV Discovery Programme is designed to validate electric truck performance on real-world routes, enabling operators to trial vehicles in live operations before committing to full-scale deployment. The 12-month, fixed-cost programme includes the vehicle, maintenance and ongoing technical support.

The integration of the new EV Discovery Programme vehicles supports M&S’s Plan A ambitions to become a Net Zero business across its value chain by 2040 and further informs both M&S and Vertellus’ future electrification strategy. Operating from the retailer’s Fashion, Home & Beauty distribution centre in Welham Green, the trucks join M&S’s growing electric fleet, which includes eight Renault Trucks E-Tech tractor units delivered under the eFREIGHT 2030 programme and three 26-tonne E-Tech D rigid refrigerated vehicles.

The vehicles have so far covered over 16,500 km, delivering CO₂ saving compared with equivalent diesel Renault Trucks, demonstrating the environmental benefits of electric vehicle deployment in real-world retail operations.

The Renault Trucks E-Tech D rigids are equipped with four 66kWh batteries, providing 211kWh of usable energy and a real-world range of up to 200 km on a single charge. With zero tailpipe emissions and near-silent operation, the vehicles can operate without restriction in highly regulated urban zones, making them ideally suited to M&S’s London delivery routes.

To further support operational efficiency, the trucks are also fitted with Renault Trucks’ Optifleet Check, delivering detailed technical reports on electrical performance and energy consumption by vehicle and driver, helping M&S better understand and optimise its electric vehicle operations.

“Our role goes beyond vehicle supply, said Rhian Burrell, managing director, Vertellus. “We’re proud to be working with M&S on their decarbonisation journey, partnering closely to make fleet electrification practical, measurable and commercially viable. Supporting M&S in the next phase of its electrification journey demonstrates how our EV Discovery Programme removes complexity and risk while delivering immediate carbon savings and valuable insight, proving that zero emission logistics works today, even in demanding urban environments.”