UK Logistics Accelerates with Major eHGV Deployments and Charging Infrastructure

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

The push to decarbonise the UK’s freight and logistics sector has taken significant strides in recent months, with a flurry of high‑impact developments in zero‑emission heavy goods vehicle (eHGV) adoption and charging infrastructure rollout.

Royal Mail has initiated the deployment of eight DAF 42‑tonne XD 350E electric HGVs at its Midlands and North‑West parcel hubs, moving away from diesel at scale. These vehicles, supported by ABB T360 high‑performance chargers capable of adding up to 60 miles in under 15 minutes, will operate round the clock. This rollout is expected to cut around one thousand tonnes of carbon emissions annually and reduce operational costs compared to diesel alternatives. The deployment is delivered via Electric Freightway a consortium backed by over £100m in investment including £62.7m from the UK government and forms part of the Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID) programme, supported by Innovate UK and the Department for Transport.

Elsewhere, Tarmac has unveiled plans to launch a fleet of eHGVs dedicated to transporting construction materials—including cement, asphalt and concrete blocks—accompanied by a new electrified charging network across London and the South East. The initiative features five new eHGVs supplied via eFREIGHT 2030 consortium partners Renault Trucks and DAF Trucks. Charging infrastructure includes Voltempo chargers at multiple sites such as the Paddington concrete plant and Northfleet blocks facility. Notably, a 250 kW DC charger enables simultaneous vehicle operations, while a Megawatt Charging System at Northfleet can deliver up to 1 MW either to one vehicle or shared across six. The eFREIGHT 2030 project is under the ZEHID umbrella and funded via £200m from the Department for Transport and Innovate UK, with infrastructure expected to become operational in early 2026.

The ZENFreight consortium has also delivered its first operational eHGV under ZEHID. The vehicle, an 8‑unit Volvo FM Electric, is now active at DFDS’s Sandhills Business Park depot in Liverpool, operating on a closed‑loop route between a food and FMCG fulfilment centre and Liverpool Port. The site supports four charging bays capable of delivering 360 kWh, allowing the vehicle to complete three to four daily cycles per charge. The deployment offers proof that battery electric freight is viable now, laying groundwork for future roll‑out. ZENFreight partners include DFDS, John G Russell Transport, Maritime Transport, Gregory Distribution, and manufacturers Volvo, DAF, Scania, Daimler along with Imperial College London. Funding through ZEHID comes as part of a £200m government investment.

Meanwhile, the Road Haulage Association (RHA) has sounded a note of caution: recent industry survey data shows that uncertainty remains high in the logistics and coach sectors. Sixty‑nine percent of HGV operators and 75 percent of coach operators reported no plans to add zero‑emission vehicles to their fleets. Only 9 percent currently operate eHGVs, and 14 percent plan to do so within five years. Key barriers include concerns over range (45 percent), high upfront costs (38 percent), and payload losses due to heavy batteries (30 percent).

Finally, strategic infrastructure planning continues to gather pace. Moto, the motorway services operator, and bp pulse announced a partnership to install ultra‑fast electric truck charging at key motorway hubs: Lymm, Toddington North, and Toddington South. Each site will feature six pull‑through bays fitted with high‑power megawatt charging systems compatible with CCS and MCS standards. The first site will open during 2026, forming part of bp’s ambition to build public multi‑energy truck hubs across the Trans‑European Transport Network (TEN‑T). Moto aims to install up to 300 charging bays at 23 locations nationwide by 2030.

What this means:

The UK’s logistics and freight sector is seeing tangible, large‑scale progress in decarbonisation driven by coordinated investment in zero‑emission truck fleets and charging infrastructure. Royal Mail, Tarmac, and ZENFreight are forging ahead with operational deployments that demonstrate both the viability and urgency of the shift to electric freight. However, RHA data underscores industry reservations which must be addressed through policy, financial incentives, and education. The Moto–bp pulse initiative highlights the importance of robust, high‑capacity public charging corridors to support long‑range operations.

Together, these developments reveal a critical juncture: electric and zero‑emission freight is no longer experimental it is scaling. But to sustain momentum, industry, government, and infrastructure providers must collaborate to break down cost, capacity, and perception barriers. Strategic roll‑out of charging hubs, continued funding under the ZEHID initiative, and stakeholder alignment are essential to unlocking full-sector decarbonisation.

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