UK Logistics Accelerate Decarbonisation with Electric and Hydrogen Freight Solutions

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

In recent months, the UK has seen a flurry of high-profile initiatives advancing green logistics and freight solutions across the country. Supply chain operator Wincanton has deployed 24 electric heavy goods vehicles from DAF, Volvo and Renault, which are expected to reduce CO2 emissions by 2,400 tonnes annually. The investment is part of the Electric Freightway and eFREIGHT 2030 programmes and is supported by charging infrastructure at depots in West London, Scotland and Northamptonshire.

Similarly, Royal Mail has introduced eight 42‑tonne electric HGVs equipped with high-performance fast chargers, delivering around 1,000 tonnes of annual carbon savings. This operation is also backed by the Electric Freightway initiative, set to expand with over 200 chargers nationwide under the broader Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID) scheme.

Several retailers are also stepping up efforts. Marks & Spencer has deployed 85 zero or low‑emission vehicles, including battery‑electric and compressed natural gas options, across its distribution network in London and the South East. The move is aligned with its Plan A Net Zero by 2040 goal and benefits from pilot insights gained through eFREIGHT 2030. Likewise, Renault Trucks and M&S celebrated six months’ successful operation of electric HGVs from the Welham Green site, serving 20 stores in the South East.

On the infrastructure front, Fleete has broken ground on a 5 MW shared-use EV charging hub at the Port of Tilbury, slated to open in December 2025. Supported by £1 million in government seed capital, it will host 16 rapid chargers, bolstering freight electrification across the Thames estuary corridor.

Hydrogen infrastructure for freight is also gaining traction. The ZENFreight consortium has introduced both battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell HGVs, with John G Russell (Transport) Ltd joining to trial six vehicles and installing depot-based charging and hydrogen refuelling solutions near Glasgow. Meanwhile, Fuel Cell Systems has been chosen as infrastructure partner for the HyHAUL project, set to deploy hydrogen refuelling systems along the M4 corridor and support up to 30 hydrogen HGVs by 2026, with long-term ambition to scale up to 300 vehicles by 2030.

At the policy level, the Zemo Partnership has published a new report identifying policy gaps hindering transport decarbonisation and convened a parliamentary roundtable involving MPs and Lords to drive coordinated action. The Electric Freightway initiative itself marks over half a million zero-emission miles driven, with analysis suggesting total cost of ownership parity with diesel HGVs within five years.

What this means:
These developments signal that the UK is making tangible, multidimensional progress in decarbonising freight. Key transport operators and retailers are implementing clean vehicle solutions in real-world operations, bolstered by rapidly expanding charging and hydrogen refuelling infrastructure. Incentives from the government—via the ZEHID programme, Freeport seed funding and strategic policy guidance are catalysing public‑private collaboration and investment. With evidence of operational feasibility, cost parity, and forward-looking policy support, green logistics is shifting from concept to scalable reality. The industry is well positioned to deliver cleaner, economically viable supply chains in the coming years.

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