ChargeUK’s Net-Zero Freight Strategy: EV & Hydrogen Funding

Welcome to Net Zero News, where we bring you the latest developments driving the UK’s transition to a net-zero future. Today, Net Zero News can reveal that ChargeUK, the UK’s electric vehicle charging industry association, has published its first Freight Strategy, aiming to break the deadlock on decarbonising the UK freight sector.

In London on 18 December 2025, ChargeUK unveiled a comprehensive plan setting out 29 policy interventions across four key pillars: network delivery and charger standards; electricity and commercial models; data and digitalisation; and power system integration. The strategy calls on government, regulators and industry to collaborate on delivering high-power charging hubs at major freight depots, designating electric freight corridors on the strategic road network by 2028, and streamlining grid connections to unlock capacity for widespread HGV electrification.

Road freight is responsible for approximately a quarter of the UK’s transport emissions and plays a vital role in the national economy. Yet uptake of battery electric heavy goods vehicles has stalled amid uncertainty over the availability of suitably powerful and reliable charging infrastructure. ChargeUK’s strategy outlines how targeted policy measures and coordinated investment can tackle infrastructure gaps, ensure commercial viability for fleet operators, and integrate freight charging with the wider electricity system to avoid grid bottlenecks and manage peak demand.

In a significant step towards the UK’s net-zero goals, the report highlights the need for a government-backed competition to establish prototype “Freight Superhubs,” alongside reforms to electricity network planning that would mandate timely reinforcement for large depots. It also recommends the introduction of time-of-use tariffs tailored to HGV charging patterns, removing barriers posed by high demand charges, and incentivising off-peak charging. Together, these measures are designed to support the rapid scale-up of electric HGV deployments and help the sector reach net-zero emissions by 2050 in line with the UK’s Sixth Carbon Budget pathway.

“Without urgent action, decarbonisation of freight will remain in gridlock,” said Tracey Noble, Chief Executive of ChargeUK. “This strategy offers a clear roadmap for government and industry to collaborate on the infrastructure and policy frameworks needed to electrify heavy transport and ensure the UK meets its statutory climate targets.”

The Freight Strategy has attracted backing from a range of stakeholders, including the Road Haulage Association and leading logistics operators. Private sector partners are being urged to pledge support for corridor development, depot electrification and data-sharing initiatives. Government departments such as the Department for Transport and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero are named as critical to implementing the recommendations, alongside Ofgem and National Grid.

ChargeUK’s plan aligns with the UK’s broader climate commitments, including the Transport Decarbonisation Plan and the Prime Minister’s Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution. It responds directly to the call in the Net Zero Strategy for sectors beyond passenger cars to accelerate their transition to zero-emission vehicles. The association notes that the forthcoming Transport Bill and updates to the National Policy Statement for Electricity Networks could provide opportunities to embed freight charging priorities into law.

Communities and businesses stand to benefit from cleaner air and quieter operations as more HGVs electrify, while fleet operators could see lower energy costs and reduced exposure to fossil fuel price volatility. However, ChargeUK acknowledges challenges remain around workforce training for high-voltage systems, securing sufficient grid capacity in rural regions and ensuring the financial viability of charging operators at lower-utilisation sites.

Net Zero News understands this forms part of a sustained engagement with policymakers over the coming months, with draft regulations expected to follow in mid-2026. ChargeUK has committed to publishing annual progress reports tracking delivery against the strategy’s milestones, with the first update due in December 2026.

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