Kerry Logistics Network has rolled out Hong Kong’s first two 5.5-tonne electric trucks after buying them for HK$3 million (US$382,170), paving the way for the city’s largest listed firm of its kind to achieve zero carbon emissions in 10 years. Upon becoming the city’s first logistics company to deploy e-trucks, the firm said the two 5.5-tonne vehicles, made by Chinese manufacturer JAC Motors, had hit the road this month. “The introduction will be a trial run and is part of Kerry Logistics Network’s green initiative to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050,” it said. The two e-trucks are currently deployed to transport high-end fashion goods. William Ma Wing-kai, the firm’s group managing director, told the Post that it spent HK$3 million to purchase the two e-trucks and two charging facilities in the initial stage, with an ultimate aim of converting its existing fleet of more than 300 diesel vehicles into e-trucks in the next 10 years. “Kerry Logistics Network is in the process of shifting to alternative fuel vehicles and phasing out vehicles with lower emissions standards on a trial basis,” Ma said. “We target to transform our existing fleet into e-trucks within the next 10 years, in which our customers will also play an important part in setting greener operational standards to minimise our environmental impact together.” The decision came after the government last year set out a goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, unveiling a road map aimed at popularising electric vehicles and phasing out new purchases of private petrol cars by 2035. For the adoption of commercial electric vehicles, the government said it would set a way forward and timetable in 2025 and was currently focused on conducting trials for adopting such vehicles for public transport and hauling goods. Ma said the deployment of e-trucks was part of the logistics firm’s global vision to achieve zero carbon emissions in its operations. “To pursue this new commitment, we will invest in carbon reduction, the use of renewable energy and offsetting emissions,” he said. “We are not setting a fixed amount of investment. We will invest to fulfil the business needs so as to ultimately achieve our zero-emission goal.” Hong Kong’s largest bus operator adds new electric vehicles to fleet The firm, originally owned by Malaysian billionaire Robert Kuok, had its 51.8 per cent stake acquired in September last year by SF Holding, the parent company of Chinese express delivery giant SF Express . The city’s franchised bus operators have also been racing to roll out electric buses to meet Hong Kong’s carbon neutrality target by 2050. Last month, KMB launched a fleet of 16 new electric single-decker buses, with plans to introduce electric double-decker vehicles to its routes by early next year. Bravo Transport, the holding company of Citybus and New World First Bus, also rolled out the city’s first electric double-decker vehicles that are specially designed to handle hilly terrain and meet commuter demand for air conditioning on public transport.