UK Freight Go-Electric: Major eHGV Deployments Signal Transport Transition

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

In recent months, the UK has seen a strong push towards electrifying heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), with significant commercial deployments and infrastructure expansions under way. Royal Mail has deployed its first eight DAF 42-tonne XD 350E electric HGVs at hubs in the Midlands and North West, replacing diesel trucks for middle-mile deliveries and saving around one thousand tonnes of carbon emissions annually while reducing operating costs. These trucks utilise ABB high-performance chargers, capable of adding up to 60 miles of range in under 15 minutes, installed by the Electric Freightway initiative at hubs in Daventry and Warrington. Electric Freightway, backed by over £100 million in investment  including £62.7 million of UK Government support  is building one of the country’s most advanced electric HGV charging networks, with over 200 chargers at up to 350 kW and infrastructure for more than 140 electric trucks.

The broader zero-emission heavy vehicle sector is also picking up pace. Registrations of zero-emission trucks more than quadrupled year-on-year in Q3 2025, reaching a record 2.4 percent market share, making the UK the second largest zero-emission HGV market in Europe behind Germany. Amazon, Royal Mail and Tarmac are among operators receiving new zero-emission trucks, including Amazon taking delivery of 160 Mercedes‑Benz eActros 600s with a 500 km range and capacity to carry 22 metric tonnes per journey between logistics depots.

Meanwhile, the ZENFreight consortium, part of the government’s Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID) programme, has introduced its first electric HGV into operation. DFDS deployed one of its Volvo FM Electric eHGVs at a Liverpool depot, running on a closed-loop route between a fast-moving consumer goods fulfilment centre and the port. The associated Sandhills Business Park facility features four charging bays delivering 360 kWh each, enabling a full charge in two hours and supporting three to four delivery cycles daily. ZENFreight combines battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell HGV trials and is led by Dynamon with partners including DFDS, Volvo, DAF, Scania and academic collaborators.

These deployments complement a key programme led by Zemo Partnership in collaboration with the Welsh Government. Launched in November, the two-year “Symud i Sero | Moving to Zero” initiative focuses on accelerating decarbonisation of commercial transport and supply chains across Wales. The scheme emerged from recommendations delivered in early 2025 and was formally launched by the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales.

What This Means:

These developments demonstrate solid momentum in decarbonising freight transport across the UK. High-range electric trucks now match the demands of logistics chains, critical charging infrastructure is being deployed at scale, and public‑sector support via programmes like ZEHID and Moving to Zero is catalysing real-world transformation. With both private and public sectors investing, the UK is poised to accelerate its journey to net zero transport, especially in the usually hard-to-decarbonise HGV sector.

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