Tomsetts Distribution‘s first electric truck proves sustainability is more than a promise.
There are some vehicle handovers that are simply about adding another truck to the fleet.
This isn’t one of them.
The arrival of a new fully electric DAF XB marks a significant milestone for Tomsetts Distribution, the family-run Newhaven-based haulier that has spent the last 50 years building a reputation for exceptional customer service, strong relationships and a commitment to doing things the right way.
Supplied on contract hire by Centurion Truck Rental and organised by dealership HTC Group, the vehicle represents Tomsetts Distribution’s first step into electric transport and another important milestone in the company’s long-term sustainability strategy.
Supporting the new vehicle is a PACCAR Charger AC 20, a 22kW charging unit installed at the company’s Newhaven site. The charger provides reliable overnight charging, ensuring the DAF XB is fully prepared for its daily delivery operations while helping Tomsetts build the infrastructure needed for a growing zero-emission fleet.
For Tomsetts, the investment is part of a wider commitment to becoming carbon neutral by 2030 and achieving Net Zero by 2040. For Centurion, it marks one of the company’s first electric vehicle contract hire solutions as operators increasingly explore practical ways to reduce emissions while maintaining operational performance.
The new DAF XB will support local delivery operations across Sussex, helping reduce emissions while continuing to provide the reliability and service standards that customers expect. If you’re around Brighton and Hove, don’t be surprised to see it gliding along the seafront or beneath the city’s iconic skyline, making deliveries with little more than the sound of tyres on tarmac.
What makes this handover particularly noteworthy is the collaboration behind it. Bringing together Tomsetts Distribution, Centurion Truck Rental, HTC Group and DAF Trucks, the project demonstrates how operators, rental providers, dealers and manufacturers can work together to accelerate the transition to lower-emission transport.
As the industry continues to evolve, partnerships like these will play an increasingly important role in helping operators make confident and commercially viable decisions about the future of their fleets.
