UK Freight Operators Accelerate Net-Zero Transition with Electric and Hydrogen Trucks

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

In recent months, several major UK logistics and freight organisations have made significant strides in decarbonising their operations, embracing zero‑emission vehicle technology and charging infrastructure to deliver on net‑zero goals.

Royal Mail has introduced its first eight 42‑tonne electric heavy goods vehicles (eHGVs) at parcel hubs in the Midlands and North West. These DAF XD 350E electric trucks rely on ABB T360 chargers, which provide up to 60 miles of range in under 15 minutes. The initiative, supported by the Electric Freightway consortium and the Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID) programme, is expected to save around 1,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually and reduce operational costs compared with diesel alternatives. Royal Mail’s strategy remains focused on achieving net‑zero by 2040, and it already operates one of the largest electric van fleets in the UK, powered by 100% renewable electricity.

Marks & Spencer has joined the eFREIGHT 2030 project under the ZEHID framework. The retailer has deployed five battery‑electric Renault 42‑tonne trucks running between its Welham Green distribution centre and 30 outlets across London and the South East. The new zero‑emission trucks directly replace diesel equivalents and will help gather insights into the feasibility of BEVs replacing conventional HGVs in supply chains.

Wincanton, a major supply‑chain firm, has taken delivery of 24 electric trucks from DAF, Volvo, and Renault capable of operating above 40 tonnes. These trucks are expected to reduce the company’s CO2 emissions by 2,400 tonnes annually. Wincanton is also deploying depot‑based charging infrastructure at several strategic locations, including West London, Scotland, and Northamptonshire, in partnership with Voltempo and Gridserve. The firm is participating in both the Electric Freightway and eFREIGHT 2030 consortia under ZEHID.

The ZENFreight consortium has made notable progress in trialling both battery‑electric and hydrogen fuel cell HGVs. John G Russell (Transport) Ltd is experimenting with three MAN battery‑electric HGVs and three hydrogen‑electric Scania HFCEVs. The trials include depot‑based electric charging and a hydrogen storage and refuelling facility at its Coatbridge depot in Scotland. Elsewhere, DFDS has introduced its first Volvo FM Electric eHGV into operation, running a dedicated closed‑loop route between Merseyside and Liverpool Port. Accompanied by an on‑site high‑capacity charging hub, this deployment marks a critical proof point for the ZENFreight project’s bid to scale low‑emission freight nationally.

Beyond vehicles and infrastructure, industry collaboration has expanded with the formation of the Sustainable Urban Freight Association (SUFA), launched at the Fleet Electrification Forum. SUFA brings together freight operators, including DPD, DHL, Ocado, and cargo‑bike providers — to advocate for cleaner urban delivery solutions, policy support, and innovation. Funded by a public health charity, membership is free for the first year.

Welch Group has also designed a strategic framework for the freight sector by launching its “12 Pillars of Change” via the TwentyForty platform. This industry‑led roadmap seeks to align operational realities with the broader goal of zero‑emission freight by 2040, filling a current gap in clear policy and route‑maps for HGV decarbonisation.

What this means:
Freight and logistics in the UK are undergoing a tangible transformation. From early-stage electric truck deployments at Royal Mail, M&S and Wincanton, to hydrogen trials under ZENFreight, the sector is rapidly testing and scaling low‑carbon alternatives. The growing infrastructure through charging hubs and depot-based refuelling points, alongside industry coalitions like SUFA and strategy roadmaps such as Welch Group’s pillars, signal that decarbonisation is moving from ambition to action. Consortia-driven programmes like ZEHID continue to catalyse both technology uptake and operational learning laying strong foundations for a net‑zero freight future by 2040 at the latest.

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