UK Freight Charges Ahead with Shared eHGV Hubs and Public Grant Support

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

The UK logistics and freight sector is seeing significant progress in the shift toward zero‑emission heavy goods vehicles (eHGVs), driven by infrastructure innovation, funding incentives, and collaborative industry programmes.

Fleete has unveiled a 5 MW ultra‑rapid electric charging hub at the Port of Tilbury, offering 16 ultra‑rapid chargers tailored for commercial vehicles. Backed by government seed capital and the ZEHID programme in partnership with Innovate UK, this shared public facility is designed to support fleet electrification without depot upgrades. Strategically located at one of the UK’s busiest multimodal freight hubs, it serves vehicles using the port and the A13 corridor, delivering cleaner freight operations and improved air quality

Earlier this year, GRIDSERVE launched the UK’s first public eHGV charging hubs at Extra Baldock and Moto Exeter under the Electric Freightway initiative. Funded via ZEHID, these depots are the first two of seven planned public charging hubs in 2026. The Electric Freightway consortium brings together vehicle manufacturers, hauliers, and infrastructure providers to accelerate zero‑emission freight electrification

To further stimulate adoption of electric trucks, the government has increased funding for the Plug‑in Truck Grant. As of January 2026, discounts of up to £120,000 are available: up to £20,000 for small trucks (4.25 t to 12 t), £60,000 for mid‑sized trucks (12 t to 18 t), and £80,000 for larger trucks (18 t to 26 t). This additional £18 million contribution brings the overall green freight package to £318 million

These developments are supported by wider industry initiatives. The ZENFreight consortium has deployed its first Volvo FM Electric eHGV at a Liverpool depot, operating on a closed‑loop FMCG route. This is part of trials across battery‑electric and hydrogen fuel cell HGVs under ZEHID, involving operators and manufacturers such as DFDS, Volvo, DAF, Scania, and Imperial College London

Meanwhile, the Welch Group has launched its “12 Pillars of Change” roadmap via the TwentyForty innovation platform. This industry‑led framework outlines practical steps toward achieving zero‑emission freight by 2040, addressing operational realities and the current absence of a defined HGV decarbonisation path

Collectively, these initiatives from charging infrastructure and financial incentives to trials and strategic roadmapping are enabling freight decarbonisation at scale.

What this means:

The rollout of shared high‑capacity charging hubs at key freight locations removes a critical barrier for fleet operators, enabling rapid electrification without significant upfront infrastructure costs. Incentive schemes such as the Plug‑in Truck Grant now offer substantial cost savings that improve the financial viability of eHGV acquisition. Concurrent real‑world trials through Electric Freightway and ZENFreight are providing valuable operational data and confidence in zero‑emission technologies. Finally, the industry roadmap initiative signals readiness to shape and lead decarbonisation efforts.

By aligning infrastructure, policy support, and industry collaboration, the UK freight sector is demonstrating how coordinated action can drive practical, scalable progress toward net zero.

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