James Kemball, part of GB Global, has marked a major milestone in its sustainability journey with the introduction of eight Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 electric heavy goods vehicles (eHGVs) and the deployment of dedicated charging infrastructure at its Felixstowe Mega Distribution Centre (FMDC).
The project was delivered through a partnership between James Kemball, PragmaCharge, Envevo and Euro Commercials, bringing together electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, software and operational support to help accelerate the transition to lower-emission freight transport.
Supported by UK Government grant funding, the project represents an important investment in James Kemball’s long-term electrification strategy, establishing the infrastructure, operational expertise and vehicle capability needed to support the future expansion of electric transport across the business.
With an average range of up to 310 miles (500km) on a single charge, the new electric fleet is well suited to James Kemball’s operations and will predominantly support deliveries within a 250-mile round-trip radius of Felixstowe.
Collectively, the new EV fleet is expected to travel approximately 560,000 miles each year, reducing CO₂ emissions by an estimated 600 tonnes and saving around 242,000 litres of diesel annually compared with conventional diesel-powered operations. This is equivalent to removing approximately 130 passenger cars from the road for a year.
PragmaCharge’s software, which has already been used to define James Kemball’s initial electrification strategy, will play a key role in day-to-day operations, by providing systems for charge planning and energy management, pre-dispatch route validation and predictive monitoring, all designed to maximise vehicle utilisation.
The charging infrastructure has been installed at the 750,000 sq ft Felixstowe Mega Distribution Centre, operated by Uniserve, a GB Global company, providing a strategic base for James Kemball’s growing electric fleet and future electrification plans.
The facility benefits from extensive onsite renewable energy generation, with 6,180 photovoltaic solar panels installed across the warehouse rooftop, producing approximately 2,500 MWh of clean, renewable electricity annually.
Supporting the electric fleet are two 360kW Heliox chargers, each equipped with three dispensers, enabling six trucks to be charged simultaneously. The investment establishes a scalable charging platform to support James Kemball’s long-term plans for fleet electrification and the wider adoption of electric vehicles across its transport operations.
The project has been delivered through a partnership between James Kemball, PragmaCharge, and Envevo, bringing together expertise in fleet electrification, vehicle supply and charging infrastructure delivery.
Gordon McCormick, Group Transport Director, James Kemball, said: “The introduction of our first electric trucks represents an important milestone for James Kemball and demonstrates our commitment to exploring practical solutions that support the decarbonisation of freight transport.
The project is particularly significant because it combines vehicle electrification with dedicated charging infrastructure at our Felixstowe Mega Distribution Centre, where more than 6,000 rooftop solar panels generate renewable electricity to support our operations.
“With PragmaCharge leading the delivery and ongoing operational support of the project, complemented by Envevo’s charging infrastructure expertise, we have established a strong platform that will allow us to evaluate the operational, environmental and commercial benefits of electric freight transport while continuing to deliver the service standards our customers expect.”
He added: “This is another important step in the wider decarbonisation journey we are undertaking across GB Global. There is no single solution to reducing emissions across a diverse transport operation. Different parts of our business face different operational constraints, and different technologies will be better suited to particular vehicles, routes and use cases. Our approach is therefore to continue evaluating and adopting the solutions that deliver the greatest practical and environmental benefit for each operation.
“As we gain experience from this deployment, the insights generated will help shape our future approach to fleet sustainability and support our broader environmental objectives as part of GB Global.”
George Welsford, Country Manager UK, PragmaCharge, said: “This hub is a significant milestone: the first of its kind for heavy road freight in the region, minutes from the UK’s busiest container port, Felixstowe. For too long, the conversation around electrifying heavy goods vehicles has focused on the challenges. What we’re demonstrating in Felixstowe is that, with the right partnerships, infrastructure and commercial model, those challenges can be overcome. In the low-margin world of road freight, it’s great to be working with one of the UK’s leading container operators to unlock the lower, more predictable costs that electric trucking delivers when it’s done right.”
He added: “This project is about much more than installing chargers; it’s about giving operators the confidence to invest in electric trucks, knowing the infrastructure, software and support are there to keep their businesses moving. In due course, together with James Kemball, we intend to open the site to invited third-party operators. It joins PragmaCharge’s growing network electrifying key logistics hubs, including Europe’s largest charging location in Valencia, Spain.”
Carl Buckingham, Head of Partnerships, Envevo, said: “We are proud to be working in partnership with PragmaCharge and James Kemball to deliver their first charging hub supported through the UK Government’s Depot Charging Scheme grant.
“By combining PragmaCharge’s fleet electrification expertise and charging solution, James Kemball’s operational insight, and Envevo’s expertise in the design and delivery of the complete charging infrastructure, including charging systems, HV/LV electrical infrastructure and associated civils, we are turning funding ambition into a practical, future-ready solution that supports the transition to electric freight.”
Max Bemrose, Truck Sales Executive, Euro Commercials Ltd commented: “We are incredibly pleased and grateful to be working alongside James Kemball and PragmaCharge to help electrify an operation of this size and capability, and for the opportunity in providing the vehicles to enable this.
“The excitement has been apparent from the beginning of this journey from all parties concerned, we have taken that on ourselves as Euro Commercials and have felt part of that journey.”
Nathan Notley, eConsultant, Euro Commercials Ltd added: “The fit of the Actros e600 seemed the obvious choice for both PragmaCharge and James Kemball thanks to it’s exceptional range, efficiency and charging speeds of up to 400Kw (CCS 2). This is coupled with the fact that it is also future-proofed with Mega-watt charging allows ample time for adaptation into a challenging and changing future.
“With it’s 4 speed eAxle, LFP battery technology and the latest in safety features we are sure that these will exceed the expectations with the operational teams and drivers-alike.”
In addition to the sustainability benefits, the deployment of the electric fleet is expected to support enhanced driver attraction and retention, improved driver satisfaction, increased customer demand for lower-emission transport solutions, new business opportunities and greater vehicle uptime.
Each driver will receive dedicated vehicle-specific training to support the transition from diesel to electric operation. While maintenance intervals currently remain aligned with diesel vehicles on a ten-week service schedule, James Kemball anticipates efficiency gains through faster preventative maintenance inspections and expects maintenance practices to evolve as the technology matures.
The deployment provides a strong foundation for James Kemball’s future fleet electrification ambitions, combining electric vehicles, renewable energy and charging infrastructure to support lower-emission transport operations while generating valuable operational insights that will help shape the next phase of the company’s decarbonisation journey.
