UK Logistics Accelerate with Electric and Hydrogen Fleet Deployment

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

Royal Mail has introduced its first eight 42‑tonne electric HGVs (eHGVs), deployed at Midlands and North West parcel hubs to replace diesel trucks. These DAF XD 350E vehicles operate between parcel hubs and mail centres, using ABB T360 chargers that can add up to 60 miles of range in under 15 minutes. The shift is expected to save around 1,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year and lower operational costs compared to diesel alternatives. This forms part of Royal Mail’s net zero strategy and Electric Freightway’s advanced charging network, backed by significant government funding under the ZEHID programme.

Logistics specialist Universal Courier Logistical Services (UCLS) has invested in 33 Renault Trucks E‑Tech Master electric panel vans to support a new zero‑emission contract covering final‑mile deliveries across the North of England, bringing the electric fleet to 48 vehicles and serving routes in Newcastle, Manchester, Sheffield and Leeds.

Supply chain firm Wincanton has added 24 new electric trucks from DAF, Volvo and Renault, over 40 tonnes, as part of its path to net zero by 2040. These vehicles are anticipated to cut emissions by 2,400 tonnes annually, supported by new depot charging installations at key sites including Greenford, Portbury, Scotland Gateway Hub and Northamptonshire.

Under the ZEHID (Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator) programme, the ZENFreight consortium has seen John G Russell (Transport) Ltd join trials of heavy battery electric HGVs and hydrogen fuel cell HGVs, deploying three MAN battery electric trucks and three Scania HFCEVs, alongside associated depot hydrogen refuelling infrastructure at Coatbridge.

In another ZEHID milestone, the ZENFreight consortium achieved its first electric HGV deployment: DFDS has put into service an Volvo FM Electric eHGV from its Liverpool depot, equipped with a new charging site featuring four 360‑kWh bays allowing full recharge in two hours, supporting three to four daily delivery cycles.

Beyond vehicle deployment, grant and infrastructure support is gaining momentum. The government’s Depot Charging Scheme (DCS), managed by Cenex and Energy Saving Trust, provides up to 75% reimbursement toward charger procurement and installation, with a target to support over 3,000 van and 200 HGV charge points by late 2025.

Meanwhile, the Plug‑in Van and Truck Grants have been extended to April 2027, offering up to £25,000 per large truck and up to £5,000 for large vans—helping fleets reduce running costs by up to £2,800 annually and supporting long‑term planning despite concerns about infrastructure and fuel diversification.

Complementing electrification efforts, the green hydrogen infrastructure is expanding. Fuel Cell Systems Ltd is delivering hydrogen refuelling systems for the HyHAUL project to build the UK’s first hydrogen freight corridor along the M4. In Aberdeen, the Hydrogen Hub project is progressing with green hydrogen production, storage and distribution on track to fuel buses and fleet vehicles from 2026.

What this means:

The logistics sector is rapidly transitioning toward zero‑emission operations, driven by both electric and hydrogen technologies. Multimodal strategies—with battery electric vehicles addressing urban and regional routes and hydrogen fuel cell trucks enabling heavy or long‑range logistics—are emerging under national demonstration programmes like ZEHID and HyHAUL. Government support through grants and infrastructure deployment is essential in reducing the barriers to electrification and hydrogen adoption. These developments offer scalable solutions, drive down emissions, and create sustainable transition pathways as the UK accelerates toward net‑zero freight transportation.

Upcoming Events:
Net Zero Scotland Projects Conference -16 June 2026, Edinburgh

Net Zero Nations Projects Conference – 6 October 2026, Westminster

Do you have technologies, innovations or solutions that can help public‑sector net‑zero projects?
Email: lee@net‑zero.scot