UK Freight Sector Accelerates Decarbonisation with Electric and Policy Innovation

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

In recent months, the UK freight sector has made substantial strides toward net-zero emissions through bold deployments of zero-emission heavy vehicles, collaborative policy frameworks and infrastructure enhancements.

One of the most significant developments has emerged from Royal Mail’s introduction of eight 42‑tonne electric HGVs (eHGVs) at its Midlands and North West parcel hubs. These DAF XD 350E trucks, supported by ABB’s rapid T360 chargers, are set to save around one thousand tonnes of carbon emissions annually while reducing operating costs compared to diesel alternatives. This deployment is part of the Electric Freightway initiative, backed by over £100 million in investment including £62.7 million of government support and forms a key component of the Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID) programme.

In parallel, the ZENFreight consortium, under the same ZEHID initiative, has seen its first electric HGV come online. DFDS has deployed a Volvo FM Electric truck at its Liverpool depot, operating on a closed-loop route between Merseyside’s FMCG fulfilment centre and Liverpool Port. The charging facility on-site features four 360 kWh chargers, allowing the eHGV to complete multiple delivery cycles daily. This operational milestone reflects the effectiveness of supply chain-focused pilot projects in proving electric freight’s real‑world viability.

Elsewhere, Wincanton has brought 24 electric trucks from DAF, Volvo and Renault into its fleet, targeting a reduction of 2,400 tonnes of CO₂ emissions per year. The trucks, capable of operating above 40 tonnes, are supported by depot-based infrastructure in West London, near Glasgow, Northamptonshire and Portbury delivered in collaboration with Voltempo and GRIDSERVE. This deployment builds on Wincanton’s broader transition strategy, including the use of HVO on the majority of its remaining fleet.

Regional efforts are gathering pace as well, most notably in Scotland where a Voltempo‑led consortium, SCALE (Scotland Charging to Accelerate Logistics Electrification), has secured backing from Transport Scotland’s £2 million HGV Market Readiness Fund. The consortium will enable Scottish hauliers to adopt eHGVs and establish necessary charging infrastructure. Pending approval, rollout efforts are expected to begin in 2026.

Meanwhile, an industry-led policy initiative gained traction with the launch of the Welch Group’s “12 Pillars of Change” via the TwentyForty platform. This aims to create a practical roadmap for zero-emission freight by 2040, tackling one of the key challenges hindering HGV decarbonisation: the fragmented operational reality across fleets, infrastructure and financing.

Another major step in sector-wide coordination was the formation of the Sustainable Urban Freight Association (SUFA), introduced at the Fleet Electrification Forum. SUFA brings together urban freight operators including DPD, DHL, Ocado, delivery bike firms and others to present a unified voice for policy engagement, research, and shared best practices. Funded initially by the health charity Impact on Urban Health, SUFA offers free membership for the first year.

Yet challenges remain. A recent analysis by SMMT highlights significant delays in grid connections for depot charging operators may face up to 15 years of wait time, a period that exceeds the phase‑out deadlines for new non-zero-emission vehicles. Industry groups are calling for streamlined planning, prioritized grid access, and supportive energy policies to avoid bottlenecks that jeopardise electrification efforts.

What This Means:

These developments underscore that decarbonising the UK freight sector is gaining tangible momentum. The shift from pilots to operational eHGV deployments like those led by Royal Mail, ZENFreight, and Wincanton demonstrates readiness for a zero-emission future. Scotland’s regional model offers a blueprint for coordinated infrastructure support, while industry-led frameworks such as the 12 Pillars and SUFA indicate growing maturity in strategy and advocacy.

However, infrastructure and policy bottlenecks notably depot charging gridlock remain significant obstacles. Addressing these challenges through planning reform and targeted investment will be essential to sustain momentum, meet net-zero deadlines and ensure freight decarbonisation is delivered at scale.

Only with sustained collaboration across government, infrastructure providers and logistics operators can the UK capitalize on this transition transforming freight operations into a zero-emission driver of future economic resilience.

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