UK Green Freight Advances: Electric HGVs, Hydrogen Trials and Charging Hubs

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In a major boost for low‑carbon logistics, Wincanton has taken delivery of 24 electric heavy goods vehicles from DAF, Volvo and Renault. These trucks are expected to cut the company’s CO₂ emissions by some 2,400 tonnes annually, and are supported by new charging infrastructure at key UK depots developed in collaboration with Voltempo and Gridserve part of Wincanton’s broader plan to scale its decarbonisation efforts and support sustainable supply chains.

Meanwhile, the nationwide ZENFreight consortium has deployed its first electric HGV. DFDS has launched a Volvo FM electric truck operating on a closed‑loop route between Merseyside’s fulfilment centre and Liverpool Port. This milestone is supported by a high‑capacity charging site featuring four 360 kWh bays, enabling the truck to complete three to four delivery cycles per day on a single charge. The UK government is backing this initiative with £200 million in funding aimed to stimulate zero‑emission lorry adoption and infrastructure development.

In the realm of hydrogen freight, ZENFreight is also trialling hydrogen fuel cell HGVs. John G Russell Transport is introducing three hydrogen‑electric Scania HFCEVs alongside three MAN battery electric HGVs, with depot charging and hydrogen refuelling infrastructure to be installed at Coatbridge near Glasgow. All vehicles are scheduled to be operational by March 2026.

Rail is emerging as another critical freight decarbonisation pathway. Network Rail, together with Freightliner and GeoPura, has transported hydrogen via Britain’s rail network for the first time. This demonstration, at the Tuxford Test Tracks adjacent to HyMarnham Power the UK’s largest green hydrogen facility also showcased hydrogen‑powered locomotives, generators, lighting towers and support vehicles. Rail freight already emits 76 percent less CO₂ than road freight, reinforcing rail’s role in hydrogen fuel distribution and decarbonising off‑grid operations.

Charging infrastructure is receiving its own significant investment. Fleete has started construction on what’s believed to be the UK’s largest commercial EV charging hub at the Port of Tilbury, in Essex. Scheduled to open in December 2025 with 16 rapid chargers and 5 MW capacity, the site will support large fleet operations around the clock.

To ensure logistics remains sustainable in urban environments, the Sustainable Urban Freight Association (SUFA) has been launched. Backed by Impact on Urban Health, the trade body brings together operators of electric vans, cargo bikes and multimodal solutions. It aims to advocate for clean vehicle transition policies, research and collaboration, offering free membership during its first year.

At the policy level, government plans are underway to develop a robust charging network for electric HGVs using Voltempo’s HyperCharging technology. The Project Electric Freightway aims to deploy this network across motorway service areas and depots, while the HyHAUL project targets hydrogen supply infrastructure along the M4 corridor. Zero‑emission HGV trials like ZENFreight are also supported under the same initiative.

What this means:
The UK freight sector is clearly accelerating its shift away from diesel, through investment in electric and hydrogen vehicles, the build‑out of charging and refuelling infrastructure, and institutional support through consortia like ZENFreight and SUFA. Collaboration between government, industry and innovators is building the foundations for zero‑emission freight, both regionally and nationally. Taken together, these initiatives demonstrate that low‑carbon logistics is transitioning from pilot to mainstream, positioning the UK to meet its decarbonisation targets while maintaining supply‑chain resilience.

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