Paving the way for zero emission HGVs

A number of government-funded projects are putting zero-emission HGVs on the road with real fleet operators to generate data and insights that will shape the future of cleaner road freight. We explore how these projects are progressing

In one of the most significant moves toward a decarbonised freight sector, the government’s Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID) programme is now in full swing. 

Delivered in partnership with Innovate UK and backed by a £200 million government investment, ZEHID aims to accelerate the rollout of zero-emission HGVs and the infrastructure needed to support them.

The programme puts zero-emission HGVs on the road, testing them in real-world conditions, with real customers, to generate data and insights that will support and shape the future of UK road freight. 

Projects to receive a share of the funding include the eFREIGHT 2030 consortia and Electric Freightway. 

Here we take a look at how some of the participating fleets are getting on.

Wincanton

Wincanton, a major player in UK logistics, is one of the flagbearers of ZEHID. Through its participation in both the Electric Freightway and eFREIGHT 2030 consortia, 
the company is deploying 24 new electric HGVs this year – with vehicles from DAF, Volvo and Renault. 

Wincanton estimates the new trucks will reduce its CO2 emissions by 2,400 tonnes annually. Charging infrastructure is being deployed across strategic depots including Greenford, Portbury, Northamptonshire and Glasgow – designed with Voltempo and GRIDSERVE to future-proof operations.

With the industry still some years away from full-scale EV adoption, the company is using these early deployments to understand charging behaviours, route planning needs and vehicle performance. 

And they’re not starting from scratch. Wincanton already uses Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) for 85 per cent of its Screwfix fleet and has integrated data-led optimisation tools through its EyeQ platform, which helps reduce emissions by up to 10 per cent. That digital backbone is now supporting the rollout of electric HGVs.
Carl Hanson, managing director of Transport at Wincanton, said: “By pioneering new vehicle technologies, we’re cutting carbon and delivering smarter, greener solutions for our customers.”

IJ McGill Transport

At the other end of the scale, IJ McGill Transport, a family-run SME, is proving that electrification isn’t only for the largest operators. As a new member of the eFREIGHT 2030 consortium, the company is adding three DAF electric HGVs to its 130-strong fleet and installing charging infrastructure at three of its five depots.

That includes a high-capacity Voltempo HyperCharger at its Bristol HQ and 240kW chargers in Tavistock and West Bromwich. Vehicles will charge during planned downtime – early morning and early evening – to maintain operational efficiency.

Operations director Heather Brown, said: “Our charging strategy will primarily focus on depot-based charging, utilising the downtime between routes.”

The company is also exploring the potential for hydroelectric power, using an existing weir at the former paper-mill site that is now the company’s main depot in Keynsham, Bristol.
    
Welch’s Transport 

Cambridgeshire-based freight and logistics business Welch’s Transport has received a 42-tonne electric Renault truck as part of its participation in the eFreight 2030 project. The truck will operate out of the company’s flagship site in Duxford on regional distribution and long-haul deliveries, and will be joined by a second early next year.

This complements the company’s existing sustainability work; in 2023, Welch’s Transport acquired a 19-tonne Renault Trucks E-Tech to enable Cambridge’s first Net Zero delivery service and installed the UK’s first publicly accessible 150kW supercharger at its Duxford site, where the new eHGVs will be charged.  

Chris Welch, managing director of The Welch Group said: “The introduction of our first fully electric 42-tonne HGV is not just a step forward for the Group, but a crucial milestone for the industry.”

“We are committed to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible within the SME environment and leading the way in sustainable logistics for the UK,” Chris added. 

Tarmac and TVS Interfleet

To demonstrate how electric vehicles can work in more challenging use cases such as construction, Tarmac will add five eHGVs equipped with a range of trailers to supply its cement, aggregate, asphalt and plant movements, in collaboration with TVS 
Interfleet. 

These eHGVs will be tested under Tarmac’s eDiscovery programme, which enables suppliers to lease electric trucks for six months to trial them before long-term commitment. The vehicles – four Renaults and one DAF – will operate in the demanding environment of construction logistics.

Additionally, Tarmac is developing a fast-charging network around the London area which will enable truck range to be increased, match the duty cycle of its existing fleet and accelerate the decarbonisation of material deliveries to customers.  
 
Ben Garner, head of Logistics at Tarmac, said: “By bringing eHGVs into these demanding aspects of Tarmac’s operations and working with like-minded partners, it further strengthens our ability to create a greener construction supply chain.”

Marks & Spencer

Marks & Spencer is another founding partner of eFREIGHT 2030 and is rolling out five 42-tonne Renault electric trucks, which will service 30 stores in London and the South East – directly replacing diesel trucks on key trunking routes. This will help M&S gain insight into the performance of battery electric HGVs.

In other work, from September, M&S is adding 30 new compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks to its Clothing & Home business and 50 4x2 CNG trucks to its food logistics fleet. 

These vehicles run on biomethane derived from waste, cutting CO2 emissions by up to 85 per cent. All of this is part of the retailer’s broader Plan A net zero roadmap, and the investment is backed by M&S’s Plan A Accelerator Fund, which is also funding trials of green hydrogen through electrolysis technology using wind/solar power. 

As Julian Bailey, head of group transport, explained: “Through collaboration, we are able to reduce carbon, save energy, and drive operational efficiencies across the business.”

Electric Freightway

The Electric Freightway project, led by GRIDSERVE and Hitachi ZeroCarbon, is another programme to receive government funding through the ZEHID scheme.

More than 30 partners are now actively involved, and the latest project report confirms that electric HGVs are on the road and charging infrastructure is close behind.
Fleet operators A.F. Blakemore and Son, Samworth Brothers, Boughey and United Utilities have all added eHGVs to their existing fleets, with other project partners eagerly awaiting theirs.

GRIDSERVE has designed both depot and public high-power charging sites, with the first expected to go live in the coming months. These designs are the product of complex planning – from site surveys and stakeholder engagement to grid capacity and legal agreements.

Meanwhile, Hitachi’s data platform is a key enabler, comparing diesel against electric HGV performance and helping fleet operators analyse total cost of ownership. This information will be crucial in breaking down perceived barriers like range anxiety, battery life and charging logistics.

Sam Clarke, commercial lead at GRIDSERVE said: “With Electric Freightway, we are writing the rule-book on the development and deployment of public and private eHGV infrastructure in real-time. We are in the process of creating a viable eHGV network at the lowest possible cost, in the fastest possible time frame, all with fleet managers and operators in mind.

A roadmap for the future

Together, these projects demonstrate the national effort to reimagine road freight. With a number of diverse fleet operators taking part, they are learning how electrification works in long-haul trunking, last-mile retail, construction logistics and regional distribution. They are solving infrastructure, cost, and operational challenges in real time – and feeding their data, experience and insight back into a national knowledge base.