UK Green Freight Accelerates: eHGVs, Multi‑Fuel Hubs & Charging Networks

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The UK freight and logistics sector is gaining fresh momentum in its shift towards net zero, with advances in electric heavy goods vehicles (eHGVs), hydrogen partnerships, and clean charging infrastructure driving systemic change.

In a powerful signal of commitment to zero‑emission freight, the ZENFreight consortium under the government‑backed Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID) programme has unveiled its first electric HGV. This Volvo FM Electric vehicle is now operational from a Sandhills Business Park depot in Liverpool, running on a dedicated closed‑loop route between a FMCG fulfilment centre and Liverpool Port. Its site features four 360 kWh charging bays, fully recharging the truck in approximately two hours, supporting up to four delivery cycles daily. ZENFreight’s strategy combines fleet electrification with robust charging infrastructure, aiming to scale sustainable freight across the UK.

Royal Mail has begun deploying eight DAF 42‑tonne electric HGVs at its Midlands and North West parcel hubs, including the first vehicles in its shift away from diesel. Equipped with ABB T360 chargers capable of delivering 60 miles of range in under 15 minutes, these trucks are projected to reduce around one thousand tonnes of carbon emissions each year. This forms part of Royal Mail’s strategy to reach net zero by 2040, supported by Electric Freightway, with over £100 million invested in charging networks and the wider ZEHID initiative.

Fresh Government action was underlined with an additional £18 million allocation for the Plug‑in Truck Grant in 2025/26. Announced in early January, this enhancement extends support for fleet operators to install new electric trucks until March 2026, with discounted rates up to £120,000 for the largest lorries. It forms part of a £318 million green freight funding package and is accompanied by a consultation on phasing out non‑zero emission HGVs by 2040.

Hydrogen fuel is also gaining traction. Protium and ULEMCo signed an MOU to drive demand for green hydrogen in transport, starting with Wales and South England. Protium operates the Pioneer 1 hydrogen facility and is preparing to launch Pioneer 2, underpinning a growing hydrogen ecosystem for heavy‑duty vehicles and non‑road machinery.

In Wales, the Zemo Partnership (appointed by the Welsh Government) is spearheading commercial vehicle decarbonisation through a two‑year programme. This initiative builds on a March 2025 Zemo report outlining 60 concrete policy interventions to reduce the freight sector’s emissions bearing in mind that road freight accounts for 34 % of Wales’ surface transport GHG emissions.

Infrastructure is also receiving major boosts. Fleete has broken ground at the Port of Tilbury on a 5 MW EV charging hub featuring 16 rapid chargers to serve electric HGVs and vans 24/7. Funded partly by £1 million from the Thames Freeport seed capital programme, this facility is expected to go live in December 2025 and form a core node in a new commercial charging network.

Complementing that, the Electric Freightway project—led by Hitachi ZeroCarbon and GRIDSERVE released its third report, showing eHGVs have already clocked over half a million zero‑emission miles in the UK. The report demonstrates that, in some cases, the total cost of ownership for electric trucks can be lower than diesel equivalents, reinforcing the business case for electrification.

What this means:

Green freight is no longer future‑vision it’s happening now. ZENFreight’s real‑world eHGV deployment and associated charging network hint at scalable regional electrification. Royal Mail and Fleete underscore that public‑private partnerships and government funding can accelerate adoption across networks. Financial incentives like the enhanced Plug‑in Truck Grant lower barriers to investment, while policy guidance and hydrogen partnerships drive diversification of low‑carbon fuel sources. The data emerging from Electric Freightway adds the evidence base operators need to make informed decisions. As multi‑fuel hubs, electric vehicles, and hydrogen options take shape, the foundations for a resilient, low‑emission freight infrastructure are being laid.

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