UK Accelerates Electric Freight and Fleet Infrastructure Expansion

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

The UK has unveiled significant strides in decarbonising transport through a wave of new infrastructure and fleet electrification projects. In January 2026, GRIDSERVE launched the nation’s first publicly accessible electric heavy goods vehicle (eHGV) charging hubs at two strategic motorway locations. The hubs, financed under the government’s ZEHID programme, mark the debut of shared, ultra-rapid charging specifically tailored to heavy vehicles. Shortly before this, the eFREIGHT 2030 consortium activated the UK’s first megawatt-scale charging site at the East Midlands Gateway. Equipped with Voltempo’s HyperCharger, the site can deliver up to one megawatt of power enough to fully charge eHGVs in under 30 minutes and initiates plans to roll out 35 such depot hubs across the country.

In commercial transport, Tarmac has launched a fleet of electric HGVs for construction logistics across London and the South East, supported by a dedicated charging network backed by the Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Development (ZEHID) initiative. Their network includes a cutting-edge Megawatt Charging System capable of serving multiple trucks simultaneously, powering heavy construction and material haulage in the region.

Public transport has also seen rapid expansion in EV infrastructure. First Bus has opened its depot charging network to third parties via Allstar’s fuel card solution, delivering ultra-rapid depot charging up to 360 kW for a range of commercial and heavy electric vans and trucks. This approach addresses critical infrastructure needs in urban areas and supports broader adoption across sectors.

Meanwhile, the rollout of electric bus charging infrastructure continues at pace. A partnership between Kempower and EO Charging has now delivered over 300 fast-charging points across 11 depots in the UK, with an additional 150 units under construction. These installations, spanning the network of operators like Metroline, Go Ahead, and Stagecoach, have supported more than 20 GWh of energy delivered to buses saving an estimated 26 million kilograms of CO₂ emissions.

At the local government level, Denbighshire County Council has become one of the early adopters of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology in fleet operations. Its depot, equipped with solar panels and battery storage, has installed an AC-based bidirectional charger that allows EVs to both draw and feed electricity to the grid. The initiative, part of the V2VNY project, serves over 400 vehicles and is drawing interest from councils and government across the UK.

What this means:
These recent developments highlight the UK’s maturing electric transport ecosystem, bringing together public and private actors to create scalable, efficient, and low-carbon charging ecosystems. The shared infrastructure at GRIDSERVE, eFREIGHT 2030, Tarmac and First Bus accelerates fleet electrification, driving down emissions in commercial logistics and public transport. Innovations such as depot opening and hub sharing improve utilisation and accessibility, while the deployment of megawatt charging and V2G capabilities underpin future grid-integrated, resilient networks. Together, these efforts are helping to secure a sustainable transport future, aligned with the UK’s net zero ambitions.

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