Scotlog gets UK’s first electric timber truck

Thought to be the first electric timber truck in service in the UK, Scotlog Sales has received its new 44-tonne Volvo rigid and trailer combination. As part of a three-year forestry trial across the Highlands, this vehicle will be used to transport timber from the Port of Inverness.

The vehicle is fitted with a Metsatek timber body and Ecco bolsters and has already been in operation for six weeks. The trial includes partners Scotlog Sales Ltd, James Jones & Sons, the Volvo Group and Cleaner EV supported by a £452,000 investment from Scottish Forestry. In the south of Scotland James Jones & Sons is operating another electric truck as part of this trial. 

Rural affairs secretary, Mairi Gougeon, said: “Around 7 million tonnes of wood are harvested from Scotland’s forests each year and transported to sawmills, board manufacturers and other processors, mostly on 44-tonne diesel lorries.

“The forestry sector is keen to use modern technology to tackle timber transport issues as part of its overall efforts to decarbonise and reach Net Zero. I’m pleased that this second truck is now working in the Highlands and look forward to hearing more about this innovative trial and how it can help cut transport emissions.”

Another important goal of this trial is to share experiences of running electric vehicles for timber haulage with others in the timber and rural transport sector. Information gathered over the three-year period will be updated online to Creel Maritime’s vehicle updates portal which is under development. 

Neil Stoddart, director of creel maritime, said: “In terms of road haulage, the timber industry is pretty advanced in looking for solutions to decarbonise. For example, we are reducing diesel lorry miles on many projects and opting for transport by sea.

“This is a very exciting project but there are big challenges in running HGV lorries on electric power, mainly on cost grounds and infrastructure. This three year trial will look into all these aspects and I’m keen to share as much detail on this with the industry. So far both trucks are matching expectations both in terms of commercial performance and driver operation.”