Asda is doubling down on its push for greener last-mile delivery. The supermarket has confirmed a new £1.3 million investment to expand its electric delivery fleet, adding 112 vans to its existing pool and bringing the total to 194.
The rollout, which begins this month, will also see the installation of EV charging infrastructure across 21 stores. Once complete, those stores will operate entirely electric delivery fleets — a first for a major UK grocery chain.
By September, Asda expects to be making more than 1 million zero-emission deliveries a year using its electric vehicles.
“We’re always looking at how we can better serve our customers and reduce our carbon emissions,” said Emma Newton, Senior Director – Ecommerce Last Mile at Asda. “We’re delighted to be more than doubling our electric fleet of grocery home shopping vehicles.”
A practical move, not a marketing push
Asda’s announcement isn’t just another sustainability headline. It’s part of a phased strategy that began two years ago and is now delivering at scale.
The retailer launched its first electric vans at stores in Gillingham Pier, Old Kent Road, and Sheffield Chaucer back in 2023. Lessons learned from those sites helped inform the wider rollout.
Each van in the new fleet can travel up to 130 miles on a single charge — enough to cover urban and suburban delivery routes with minimal disruption. Every vehicle is expected to save around 1,700 kilograms of CO₂ emissions per year, according to Asda.
This expansion pushes Asda’s electric delivery network well beyond trial stage — and squarely into live, national operations.
Third-party analysis: ‘One of the few doing it at real scale’
While competitors continue to test EVs in limited areas, Asda is already integrating them into its core logistics network.
“Most retailers are still in the pilot phase with electric vans. Asda is one of the few scaling in a way that genuinely impacts operations,” said Dr. James White, Director at the UK Centre for Logistics Innovation. “It’s a practical rollout — not a PR project.”
White points to the infrastructure piece — charging facilities installed at each of the 21 electric stores — as a critical factor that sets Asda apart.
“Without that, EVs stall quickly. Asda’s decision to build both the fleet and the charging network shows they’re serious about long-term logistics change.”
How it compares: Where rivals stand
Supermarkets across the UK have made emissions pledges. But very few are delivering action at this level.
Tesco has tested electric delivery vans across London and committed to decarbonising its entire fleet by 2030. Waitrose made a similar announcement. But those plans remain future-facing.
Right now, no other UK grocer is operating fully electric delivery fleets at 20+ stores — or targeting one million zero-emission deliveries within a single year.
| Supermarket | EV Vans (est.) | Fully Electric Stores | Target Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asda | 194 | 21 | 2025 |
| Tesco | 300–500 (pilot) | Select regions | 2030 |
| Waitrose | Small-scale | Limited areas | 2030 |
| Sainsbury’s | Minimal | Test zones | No target |
Building a dual-fuel model
The EV investment complements another area where Asda has quietly built a lead: long-haul Bio-LNG trucks.
The supermarket now operates more than 780 liquefied natural gas (LNG) vehicles, making it the UK’s largest LNG fleet in grocery retail. In 2024, Asda opened two dedicated LNG refuelling sites to support that operation.
In short: LNG for long-haul. EVs for last mile. It’s a combined model that uses the strengths of both technologies.
And it means Asda’s fleet is already shifting away from diesel — not just planning to.
Why this matters: The pressure on last-mile emissions
Grocery delivery is growing — and so is the emissions footprint of vans on the road. Retailers are facing increasing pressure from local authorities, shareholders, and customers to do something about it.
Low-emission zones in cities are tightening. ESG reporting expectations are rising. And investors are now rating retailers on logistics as much as packaging.
Asda’s move comes at a time when real progress on delivery emissions — not just carbon offsetting — is becoming essential.
