Foodstuffs North Island

Foodstuffs North Island’s electric truck saves more than 80 tonnes of emissions in first six months

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Truck driver Jason Funnell with the Deepway Star EV truck at Foodstuffs North Island’s Mihaere Drive Distribution Centre, Palmerston North.

Foodstuffs North Island’s Deepway Star electric heavy vehicle has clocked up 44,524 kilometres and prevented 81,171kg of CO₂ from entering the atmosphere in its first six months on the road - that’s roughly equivalent to taking around 35 petrol cars off the road for a year.

Operating out of the co-op’s Palmerston North’s Mihaere Drive Distribution Centre, the truck hauls chilled and frozen groceries to stores across the lower North Island.

The truck accounts for 72,053 kg of CO₂ and the electric refrigerated trailer makes up 9,118 kg of the total emissions savings.

Foodstuffs North Island Carbon Manager Ben Riordan says transitioning these heavy vehicles away from diesel is a cornerstone of the co-op's strategy to reduce emissions by 42 percent by 2030.

“This demonstrates that the electrification of heavy freight vehicles is now a reliable and competitive means of transporting goods in a challenging sector,” he says.

“Drivers have also praised the Deepway for its exceptional comfort, smooth operation, and remarkable quietness. It’s quite distinct from conventional diesel trucks, and the design has turned heads and sparked some lively discussions among the public online.”

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A proud moment for Foodstuffs North Island, named runner-up at the 2026 Spark Retail NZ Awards earlier this month and recognised with the Sustainability Leadership Award for rolling out the Deepway Star EV truck.

Looking ahead, Foodstuffs North Island is assessing infrastructure requirements to support future EV fleet expansion. This planning extends beyond existing distribution networks, ensuring that EV charging and energy infrastructure are embedded into the design of new distribution centres currently under way.

Foodstuffs operates one of the country's largest grocery supply chains, with five distribution centres nationwide and trucks traveling roughly 30 million kilometres every year.

If your business is considering the transition to heavy EVs, we’re here to help. Get in touch with the Foodstuffs Sustainability team at [email protected].