Ahead of this month’s CiTTi Awards 2024 ceremony, City Transport & Traffic Innovation Magazine is profiling each of this year’s finalists – continuing with those shortlisted for The Alternative Fuels Award!
This award celebrates the best use of an alternative fuel in individual commercial vehicles or fleets, including those powered by gaseous fuels (hydrogen, natural gas, propane), alcohols (ethanol, methanol, butanol), vegetable and waste-derived oils (HVO), and electricity.
Entries highlighted innovation in vehicle technology, fuel efficiency, reduction in emissions, and contribution to sustainability.
What’s more, submissions should highlight the adoption rate, environmental impact, and practical benefits of using alternative fuels in urban transportation.
This year’s finalists are:
DPD UK
DPD UK is nominated for its efforts to decarbonise its operations. DPD UK operates over 10,000 delivery vans, delivering 360 million parcels annually with a turnover of £2bn, doubling in size since 2016. Sustainability is central to its operations, with a commitment to net zero by 2040, approved by the Science-Based Targets initiative in 2023. The fleet now includes 3,600 electric vehicles, a 414% increase since 2020, with plans for 4,000 by 2024. Innovations like hydrogen-powered HGVs, autonomous delivery robots, and hydrogenated vegetable oils, which reduce CO2e by up to 90%, are transforming operations. Over 30% of deliveries now use EVs, with 100 million parcels expected to be delivered by EVs in 2024. Autonomous robots, initially trialled in 2022, are now active at multiple sites, reducing reliance on diesel vans. Investments in initiatives like the EcoLaunchpad incubator and the London Docklands site, powered by renewable energy, enhance infrastructure sustainability. Progress includes cutting carbon emissions by 34% since 2020, with over 124,000 tCO2e reductions achieved, demonstrating that DPD is on track for its net zero goal.Evri
Evri is nominated for its priotistation of fleet decarbonisation and alternative fuels. Evri, the UK’s largest dedicated parcel delivery company, handles over 720 million parcels annually. Committed to achieving net zero direct and indirect emissions by 2035. Recent efforts include trials of hydrogen and electric HGVs, expanding its electric van fleet to 168, and making 1.5 million zero-emission deliveries via e-cargo bikes. Currently, 53% of its core HGV fleet operates on Bio-CNG, reducing CO2 emissions by up to 84% compared to diesel. Sustainability achievements include a 21% year-on-year reduction in carbon emissions per parcel in 2023-24 and an 18% improvement in its ESG score through the S&P Global index, placing Evri in the top 20% of the industry globally. Recognition of its responsible business practices includes winning the 2024 EcoVadis Silver Medal, ranking in the top 15% of assessed businesses.John Lewis Partnership
John Lewis Partnership (JLP) is nominated for its commitment to net zero carbon by 2035 and eliminating fossil fuels by 2030. Its heavy trucks will transition to biomethane by 2028, vans and light trucks will be fully electric by 2030, and refrigerated trailers will use electric or HVO biodiesel. Innovative technologies like alternator drives on 50 trucks already save 300 tonnes of CO2 annually. JLP reduces emissions by cutting miles, improving fuel efficiency, and adopting alternative fuels. Route optimisation for Waitrose and John Lewis deliveries has reduced miles per order, saving energy and emissions. Smart charging ensures e-vehicles charge only what’s needed, with fully electric vans at St Katherine’s Dock saving £13,000 in diesel and 35.4 tonnes of CO2 in 2023. Aerodynamic truck upgrades and telematics have improved fuel efficiency, while 421 biomethane trucks displaced 15 million litres of diesel and saved 39,967 tonnes of CO2 in 2023. Shore power for refrigerated trailers cut emissions by 1,355 tonnes, while smart plugs at Aylesford DC saved 89.1 tonnes of CO2.Nicholls Transport
Nicholls Transport is nominated for its use of 10 LNG trucks and establishing the South East’s first LNG refuelling station in Sittingbourne, Kent. Nicholls Transport (EH Nicholls Jnr Ltd), a family-run haulage business, is proving that sustainable logistics is achievable now. Despite challenges like rising gas prices during the pandemic, the company expanded its fleet to 42 biomethane-powered LNG trucks, with three more arriving in 2024. Nicholls’ sustainability efforts, verified by Zemo Partnership’s Renewable Fuel Declarations, avoid double-counting emissions savings linked to HVO. Between July 2022 and December 2023, Nicholls achieved up to 191% GHG savings, preventing 3.9 million kg of CO2 emissions—equivalent to preserving a mini iceberg’s worth of Arctic ice. At its Sittingbourne site, Nicholls generates over 85% of its electricity via rooftop solar panels, captures rainwater for truck washing, and supports biodiversity with beehives pollinating 5,000 planted trees and shrubs. In 2024, Nicholls was ranked in the top 35% of companies globally by EcoVadis for sustainability, labour practices, ethics, and procurement.Transport for London
Transport for London is nominated for its work to decarbonise its fleet of 9,000 red buses to address poor air quality and the global climate emergency. With buses contributing over half of TfL’s operational carbon emissions in 2022/23, transitioning to zero-emission vehicles is a key priority. Since 2021, TfL has stopped ordering diesel or hybrid buses and aims to achieve a fully zero-emission fleet by 2034, with aspirations to accelerate this to 2030. TfL began its zero-emission journey with hydrogen trials in 2004, adding electric single-deck buses in 2013 and double-deck models in 2019. There are now more than 1,400 zero-emission buses in the fleet, including battery electric, hydrogen, and opportunity-charged vehicles, making it the largest zero-emission bus fleet in Western Europe. Zero-emission routes have increased from three in 2016 to over 80 in 2024, with further growth expected as more vehicles are ordered. TfL estimates that a fully zero-emission fleet could save 340,000 tonnes of carbon annually, rising as electricity generation becomes greener. By 2034, this could save 4.8 million tonnes of carbon, increasing to 5.5 million tonnes if achieved by 2030.
Acclaimed Irish stand-up comedian Andrew Ryan has been announced as the special guest host of CiTTi Awards 2024. He will reveal all the winners on Tuesday November 26 at De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in central London.
The ceremony will be attended by 200 of the UK’s leading transport professionals from local, regional and central government and other place stakeholders – including landowners, developers, and business improvement districts – and their project partners, such as architects, planners, contractors, and technology companies.
Guests will be greeted with a drinks reception held in the Balmoral Suite ahead of the winners being announced within the impressive surrounds of the Grand Hall, which features arched ornate ceilings, beautiful wood-panelling and dramatic chandeliers.
November’s trophy-giving ceremony and public announcement of the winners follows a thorough and exacting shortlisting and judging process, which saw more than 20 transport industry experts evaluate written entries and Zoom-based presentations from nearly 90 organisations across 20 categories.
Tables of 10 and individual tickets can be purchased here. Each seat booked includes a ticket that grants each guest access to the pre-ceremony drinks reception, a three-course dinner, the trophy-giving presentation and invaluable networking opportunities.
Anyone is welcome to attend CiTTi Awards 2024. You do not need to be an finalist to book, so secure your place now for this year’s most exciting social event in the UK transportation sector’s calendar!
The third annual CiTTi Awards will be held on 26 November 2024 at De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London. Visit www.cittiawards.co.uk to learn more about this unmissable event for the UK’s transportation sector – and to book your table!
