UK Freight Goes Electric: Major Steps Toward Green Logistics

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

The UK freight sector is increasingly ramping up efforts to transition toward zero-emission operations, featuring a wave of fleet electrification, hydrogen trials and strategic industry collaboration. Key developments span from expanded electric vehicle (EV) fleets to pioneering hydrogen heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and innovative infrastructure hubs.

Wincanton has begun integrating 24 electric trucks into its supply chain in 2025, supplied by major manufacturers including DAF, Volvo and Renault. Expected to slash CO2 emissions by approximately 2,400 tonnes annually, the move is part of Wincanton’s broader 2040 net-zero strategy. To support this deployment, depot-based charging infrastructure is being rolled out across strategic sites such as Greenford, Portbury, Scotland Gateway Hub near Glasgow and The WEB in Northamptonshire. The infrastructure is designed and built in collaboration with Voltempo and Gridserve. The initiative also includes use of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) for 85% of Wincanton’s logistics vehicles serving Screwfix and aligns with its involvement in the Electric Freightway and eFREIGHT 2030 consortia under the ZEHID programme, backed by Innovate UK and the Department for Transport.

Building on that progress, the ZENFreight consortium has deployed its first electric HGV, a Volvo FM Electric, at DFDS’s Sandhills Business Park depot in Liverpool in October 2025. Equipped with a high-capacity charging site featuring four 360 kWh bays, the vehicle can fully recharge in two hours, completing three to four delivery cycles a day. This marks a milestone for the ZEHID-supported ZENFreight, which is now operationally demonstrating both battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell HGV technologies.

Meanwhile, hydrogen trials are progressing: John G Russell (Transport) Ltd, as part of the ZENFreight consortium, is trialling three MAN battery-electric HGVs and three Scania hydrogen-electric fuel cell vehicles—a rare 6×2 configuration in real-world UK operations. Their depot in Coatbridge will also host hydrogen storage and refuelling infrastructure.

Market momentum is strengthening too. Zero-emission HGV registrations surged by 59.1% in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. Although still only around 1% market share with roughly 183 units registered, there are 35 zero-emission models now available in the UK, suggesting growing fleet choice ahead of the 2035 requirement for zero-emission trucks up to 26 tonnes.

Local infrastructure adaptation for low-carbon logistics is also underway. In June 2025, global freight firm FSEW announced the establishment of a Low Carbon Freight Hub in Cardiff powered entirely by renewable energy. EV charging partner Zenobē is installing four 400 kW DC chargers with potential to expand across the site’s 2.5-acre footprint, using smart charging software to manage demand and control costs.

Industry coordination is advancing through new collaborative platforms. The Sustainable Urban Freight Association (SUFA) launched this summer with 18 founding members, including major parcel, cargo bike and delivery firms. Hosted under the Fleet Electrification Forum, SUFA aims to foster best-practice sharing, policy advocacy and transition support for urban and last‑mile freight operators.

Finally, recognising the complexity of decarbonising the freight industry, the Welch Group has unveiled the “12 Pillars of Change” roadmap via its TwentyForty innovation platform. This outlines an industry-led strategy to guide zero‑emission freight efforts to 2040. The framework emerged from a collaborative event conceived to carve a pragmatic, unified path ahead of the national ban on new fossil fuel HGVs.

What this means:

The UK’s freight sector is entering a period of rapid transformation. Multiple large-scale EV deployments from Wincanton to DFDS and upgrades in infrastructure point to a decarbonising logistics network taking shape. Hydrogen trials add breadth to the technology palette, while registration data and expanded model choice signal market readiness. Urban hubs like Cardiff and collaborative vehicles like SUFA reflect a systemic, multi-stakeholder shift.

Yet challenges remain: zero-emission HGV market share still lags behind where it needs to be, infrastructure must scale faster, and policies must reinforce these industry-led efforts. Roadmaps like Welch Group’s “12 Pillars” are vital for aligning ambition across the freight ecosystem and ensuring the UK stays on track to meet its 2040 phase-out deadline.

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