As FSEW join the EV Rally Cymru for the first time, Geoff Tomlinson, Managing Director explains how the event provides a great opportunity to showcase how electric trucks are making their mark on UK roads as a commercially viable option, helping businesses to reduce Scope 3 emissions.
Please could you introduce FSEW; when was it established and what does the company offer?
FSEW is a leading privately owned international freight forwarding company that is pioneering change by demonstrating how low carbon transport is commercially viable. I launched the business in 2002 after spotting a gap in the market for a customer orientated global freight forwarding company. Fast-forward two decades, and FSEW now operates from our base at Wentloog, Cardiff, with a workforce of over 100 people. We provide integrated intermodal freight transport services across the UK, Europe, and internationally. We work with a number of blue chip companies and are helping them to move their goods in a more sustainable way, supporting their net zero targets.
Decarbonisation has been at the forefront for us since 2017. I read an article stating that Cardiff was one of the most polluted cities in the UK, particularly on a road we frequently use, with four schools nearby. My children were just toddlers at the time and it hit hard. We set a target to become diesel-free by 2025 and achieved it a year ahead of schedule. This has avoided over 2.4 million diesel kilometres, equivalent to 2,400 tonnes of CO₂ saved. Our electric fleet currently stands at 10 consisting of Volvo, DAF and Mercedes Benz eActros 600 trucks.
Earlier this year I was proud to be awarded 2025 Motor Transport Number 1 Decarbonisation Power Player for my decarbonisation activities. We’ve had a number of industry firsts most notably launching the UK’s first commercial use electric HGV in partnership with Tesco in 2021. We’ve also entered a second EV project with Tesco, launching the first fully electric truck lane between Tesco distribution centres in Wales. This new service will transport products using four fully electric heavy freight articulated trucks. A combination of 37 tonne Volvo, DAF and Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 electric vehicles will transport hygiene paper products from a Tesco supplier to its distribution centre in Magor, Wales. In addition we’ve also recently started a further trial of a second fully electric lane from Maesteg to Tesco’s Lichfield Distribution Centre.
What has made you decide to get involved in the EV Rally Cymru?
It’s only right that the UK’s leading truck decarbonisation specialist is involved in our home EV Rally. Sustainability is at the heart of our business strategy so our involvement helps us to get actively involved and help to encourage greater confidence in EV technology. The logistics industry is a heavy polluter, and at FSEW we are doing things differently. The EV Rally helps us to reach a wider audience with this message. Our mission is to make freight cleaner, more sustainable, and still commercially viable. The EV Rally is all about reducing emissions and improving air quality whilst having some fun at the same time! It’s right up our street and we’ll be showcasing the capabilities of the Volvo FM electric truck. We’re excited to be taking part in an event that has clean energy and innovation at its core.
Please tell us about your team - who is driving and in what vehicles?
We are sponsored by Volvo and driving a FM 4x2 electric truck from Volvo Truck from our own fleet. Our drivers will be Leon Deane, Assistant Transport Manager, alongside Jarrett Jones, UK Transport Operations.
Taking part in a e-HGV, do you anticipate any challenges on the rally? And do you have a particular strategy to tackle these challenges?
We’re going to be driving one of the bigger vehicles involved in the EV Rally. The Volvo FM electric truck is powered by three electrical motors, which generate 666hp and 2,400 Nm of continuous torque and a driving range of 190miles.
The obvious challenge is truck-friendly charging points but we do have a competitive advantage because our drivers are used to managing this on a daily basis, working to the Volvo’s driving range capabilities. Collaboration, good communication and using supportive technologies will be critical to our strategy. We also need to ensure our drivers remember to scan the QR codes and take all the right photos to showcase what we’re doing!!
Why are events like the EV Rally important for the driving up EV adoption?
We are operating in one of hardest to electrify sectors, running containers and full curtainsider trailer loads from Cardiff all over the UK. The involvement of freight forwarders like ourselves in the Rally shows how the electric trucks work – we’re taking action rather than just talking about it. The involvement of major brands like Volvo is also important to drive the message at a corporate level too, moving it higher up the table. There is still an awful lot that needs to be done.
Please tell us about FSEW’s future plans?
Embracing electric vehicles is a key way for businesses to curb their supply chain emissions and demonstrate how important electric vehicles are the future. We’re working hard to raise the profile low carbon transport solutions and appeal into different people within customer organisations.
One of the areas we are promoting to help shape a carbon-free future is with Greenflow, our brand new product that allows our clients to ship to and from anywhere in the world – whether it is by road, rail, air or sea – net zero. It will make a major impact to those companies that will need to meet a reduction in Scope 3 targets. It is a significant step forward for the industry with FSEW leading the field by offering this across all modes of freight transportation.
Our fleet is also growing. We currently operate a fleet of 40+ trucks and plan to increase that to 100 within two years. We’ve just taken delivery of our first Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 units, which bring our total electric HGVs to 10.
We’ve also purchased a 2.5-acre site in Cardiff to create a Low Carbon Freight Hubs, powered entirely by renewable energy. It will include our new HQ and eight 480KW DC truck chargers and will be available to third party operators. We recently announced our strategic partnership with Zenobē, the EV fleet and battery storage specialist. Zenobē has been appointed as charging infrastructure partner for this project, given their extensive experience in this space. The hub will be the first in Wales to be powered entirely by renewable energy sources and one of the UK’s first low carbon freight hubs. This is an exciting and pivotal moment in our plans to create the UK’s first low carbon freight hub by January 2026.