Royal Mail & DFDS lead UK zero‑emission freight push

Welcome to Net Zero News, your daily briefing on the UK’s transition to a low‑carbon future.

Royal Mail has begun operating eight new 42‑tonne electric Heavy Goods Vehicles (eHGVs) at its Midlands and North West parcel hubs, replacing diesel trucks in its middle‑mile delivery network. These DAF XD 350E vehicles, powered via high‑performance T360 chargers capable of adding up to 60 miles of range in under 15 minutes, are supported by Electric Freightway’s high‑speed charging infrastructure developed in two of Royal Mail’s hubs. The move is estimated to save around one thousand tonnes of carbon emissions annually while also reducing operational costs. Royal Mail, which already operates one of the UK’s largest electric delivery van fleets powered by 100% renewable electricity, aims to reach net zero by 2040.

Meanwhile, the ZENFreight consortium, part of the UK Government’s Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID) programme, has introduced its first electric HGV into service. At the Sandhills Business Park depot in Liverpool, DFDS is now operating a Volvo FM Electric eHGV on a dedicated closed‑loop route between a fulfilment centre and the port. The depot features four charging bays delivering 360 kWh; the truck can fully charge in two hours and complete three to four delivery cycles per day.

Combined, these initiatives show the freight sector advancing from pilot to real‑world operations. Royal Mail’s deployment demonstrates how electrification of middle‑mile journeys underpins carbon reduction and cost savings. At the same time, the DFDS electric truck in Liverpool validates zero‑emission freight for closed‑loop heavy‑duty operation. Both rely on high‑capacity charging infrastructure and public‑private collaboration to accelerate decarbonisation across the supply chain.

What this means:
The UK freight sector is achieving tangible progress towards net zero, using electric trucks for both parcel and heavy‑goods transport. Royal Mail’s maiden eHGVs and DFDS’s first Volvo electric HGV mark operational milestones in deploying zero‑emission logistics. Continuing expansion of charging infrastructure and a unified strategy under programmes like ZEHID will be vital to scaling this transformation nationwide.

Upcoming Events:
Net Zero Scotland Projects Conference -16 June 2026, Edinburgh

Net Zero Nations Projects Conference – 6 October 2026, Westminster

Do you have technologies, innovations or solutions that can help public‑sector net‑zero projects?
Email: lee@net‑zero.scot