Popular UK singer Sam Fender has just completed a historic tour of the UK and Ireland, being the first to do so to use transport powered entirely by electric trucks.
The singer’s People Watching Tour was operated and delivered by KB Event and was the first live music tour to use 100 per cent electric heavy vehicles.
The tour used a suite of Mercedes-Benz trucks to deliver the sell-out run of shows, with four eActros 600s saving 840kg of carbon emissions over the 934 miles travelled to deliver concerts across England, Scotland, Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Each night, the trucks carried stage sets and equipment hundreds of miles between venues, charging on the road using the existing UK and Irish HGV infrastructure.
With a class-leading 500km+ range on a single charge and the ability to recharge from 20 to 80 per cent in just 25 minutes, the eActros 600 truck proved more than up to the challenge of the fast-paced touring world.
“Transport is a key part of any live music tour, but we wanted to make the People Watching Tour as green and sustainable as possible,” KB Event managing director Richard Burnett says.
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“Until now, electric trucks weren’t seen as viable for big tours, but the eActros 600 has shown they can deliver the performance, the range and the reliability. No one else can do this like Mercedes-Benz Trucks.”
The artist himself, Sam Fender, was equally excited by the history-making venture.
“We’ve just finished our summer tour where we used Mercedes-Benz electric trucks operated by KB Event. Hopefully, this will help show what can be achieved on future tours and other artists will jump onboard too,” Fender says.
“Big thanks to everyone involved and to Massive Attack for pioneering the way with more sustainable touring.”
The feedback wasn’t just from the stage. Drivers of the eActros 600 were quick to praise the truck’s refinement and overall usability.
Despite tight deadlines, charging posed no issues during the tour.
“We only needed a maximum 90-minute stop to recharge, which slotted neatly into the schedule,” Burnett says.
“It will be even easier when venues start adding their own charging hubs.”
For Daimler Truck UK, the tour represents a landmark moment for both logistics and live entertainment.
“Concerts bring joy to millions, and now they can also help drive a more sustainable future. The eActros 600 shows that electrification works, even in one of the most demanding industries – live touring,” Daimler Truck UK sales and marketing director Stuart Jeggo says.
“A big thank you to our dealers for their support – especially Metrux Truck and Van, and also Ciceley Commercials – without whom this would not have been possible.”
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