UK Zero‑Emission Buses and Commercial Fleets Accelerate Toward Net Zero

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

Britain is increasingly steering its transport sector toward zero‑emission operations, with public and commercial fleets gaining momentum on the road to net zero.

In 2024, Britain further entrenched its position as Europe’s leading market for zero‑emission buses, with 1,570 new electric or hydrogen units entering service a 35.5 percent increase year‑on‑year. ZEBs (zero‑emission buses) now constitute 43.9 percent of registrations in single and double‑deckers, supported by ongoing ZEBRA regional funding and the arrival of more model options for operators. Notably, the UK added 8,390 buses overall to its fleet, marking the largest bus market in Europe last year. Growth was especially striking in minibuses, which more than doubled (up 102.5 percent to 4,816), while single‑deck deliveries rose 22.5 percent (to 1,973 units) and double‑decks surged 69.6 percent (1,601 units). Regional contributions varied England led with 87.4 percent of new deliveries, Wales up 184.9 percent, Northern Ireland up 52.4 percent, though Scotland saw a 15.6 percent decline. These figures reflect strong operator confidence and government support across the market.

In London, the zero‑emission revolution continues apace. Transport for London (TfL) confirmed that more than 2,000 zero‑emission buses now operate across the capital roughly 20 percent of its fleet. This is a staggering contrast to 2016, when just 30 zero‑emission buses were in service. TfL aims for a fully zero‑emission bus fleet by 2030, which is expected to curb up to five million tonnes of carbon emissions in the coming two decades. The shift also supports about 3,000 jobs across the UK, with a £12 billion supplier spend, 30 percent of which is by low‑carbon industries.

Meanwhile, in the commercial sector, Marks & Spencer (M&S) has integrated 85 zero‑ or low‑emission vehicles into its logistics operations as part of its Plan A net zero by 2040 strategy. This includes five battery‑electric 42‑tonne trucks (earning insight through the government’s eFREIGHT 2030 demonstrator programme) and 30 biomethane‑fuelled compressed natural gas vehicles, achieving nearly ten percent of its transport fleet being zero or lower emission.

Yet, challenges remain. Demand for zero‑emission trucks tumbled by 7.3 percent in 2024 to just 217 units retaining a meagre 0.5 percent market share. Despite ambitious 2035 end‑of‑sale commitments for new non‑zero‑emission HGVs, high costs, dwindling grant support, and minimal charging infrastructure (fewer than five HGV‑dedicated chargepoints nationwide) pose significant hurdles. A compelling new incentive scheme and infrastructure investment are urgently needed to sustain uptake.

Gridland challenges persist too: operators may face waits of up to 15 years to secure depot charging infrastructure well beyond the deadline for the sale of non‑zero‑emission commercial vehicles. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has called for urgent reform in planning and grid connection prioritisation to avoid stalling this transition.

On the policy front, Zemo Partnership hosted a forum in April to identify missing policies hampering road‑transport decarbonisation. Commissioned by the European Climate Foundation, the initiative aims to expand the Delivery Roadmap for Net Zero Transport by developing a ‘Map of Missing Policies’ covering all four UK nations. A final report is expected in June, following consultations through late May.

What this means:
Zero‑emission buses are finally scaling across the UK, backed by strong funding, increasing model availability, and shifting operator confidence paving a crucial path to cleaner public transport.
London is leading the pack in urban bus decarbonisation, with TfL’s progress offering a model for other cities, alongside clear economic and environmental benefits.

Corporate logistics are joining in M&S’s actions represent a pragmatic example of fleet decarbonisation in practice.
However, the growth of zero‑emission trucks remains stalling, constrained by cost, weak incentives, and infrastructure bottlenecks without intervention, the 2035 targets may slip.

Policy attention is sharply needed: addressing gridlock in depot charging and closing policy gaps will be critical to deliver net‑zero transport by mid‑century.

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