Sanders|Fritom Adds Three Electric Trucks and Builds High-Capacity Charging Facility

Uden – At Sanders|Fritom, we are expanding our fleet with three new electric trucks. As a logistics service provider, we operate daily with more than 125 vehicles in transport, warehousing, intermodal transport to Italy, and groupage road transport throughout the Benelux and Germany. With this expansion, we are taking the next step in our sustainability journey. To support the new trucks, we are building our own charging hub with a capacity of 400 kW and battery storage of nearly 850 kWh.

Sustainability as a Core Value

Sustainable business operations have long been a key focus for us. Since 2023, our entire fleet has been running on HVO100, resulting in up to 90% CO₂ reduction. More recently, we have taken the step toward electric mobility, driven in part by the introduction of zero-emission zones in the Netherlands and the efforts of our Fueled to Sustain ambassadors.

Significant Investment, Partly Covered by Subsidies

Switching to electric transport requires major investments. An electric vehicle costs several times more than its diesel equivalent, and building charging infrastructure is also expensive. For our charging hub and battery storage system, we received more than €80,000 in funding through the SPRILA subsidy scheme, against a total investment of nearly €450,000.

In addition, we make use of the AanZET subsidy for the purchase of electric vehicles. The fiscal Energy Investment Allowance (EIA), Emission Rights Exemptions (EREs), and the lower truck levy also contribute financially. Together, these schemes cover approximately one-third of the total investment, bringing the long-term financial outlook close to break-even.

"I would always take advantage of the various incentive schemes again. Why leave money on the table when these programs are specifically intended to support investments like these?" says Beekmans, Logistics Advisor at Sanders|Fritom. However, uncertainty remains regarding how long the government will continue to maintain these subsidies and tax benefits.

Electricity Supply Is the Biggest Challenge

The greatest obstacle is not funding, but the availability of electricity.

"Through our fixed grid connection, we have access to only 55 kW. That is just enough to keep the lights on in our warehouse," says Beekmans. We have already been on the waiting list for a grid expansion for more than six years.

Together with Kenter Groendus, we found an interim solution. Enexis made an additional 400 kW available through a block contract, but only between midnight and 6:00 a.m. Combined with 2,000 solar panels and our battery storage system, this allows us to charge six to eight vehicles for the time being. Our vehicles operate during the day and are charged overnight, making them ready for deployment again the following morning.

An Essential Investment

For us, this investment is not a choice but a necessity if we want to continue delivering pallets in zero-emission zones in the future. Alternatives such as urban consolidation hubs would lead to higher transport costs, longer delivery times, and increased risk of damage.

We hope that the government will guarantee the current financial incentives for the full economic lifespan of these investments, so that businesses have certainty about the conditions under which they are investing.