Progress made in Electric Freightway eHGV project

GRIDSERVE has released its first report from its government-funded Electric Freightway project, which aims to deliver the eHGV charging network needed to enable the UK to decarbonise HGVs in the shortest possible timeframes.

The report, published by principal partner Hitachi ZeroCarbon, covers the project’s introduction, approach and progress.

The report highlights the progress of the project; the first of some 140 eHGVs will be put into service by consortium members this month, while GRIDSERVE is expecting sign-off from a combination of landowners, adjacent business owners, local government and Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) to begin the installation of its first eHGV charging depot.

Additionally, Hitachi ZeroCarbon will begin conducting a survey of drivers and fleet managers to compare their perceptions of eHGVs over time, while gathering useful data from their initial operational experience.

Electric Freightway is being funded by the government's zero emission HGV and infrastructure demonstrator programme (ZEHID) in a bid to decrease the amount of carbon emissions from the freight sector. Delivered in partnership with Innovate UK, the project aims to lay the foundations for the biggest eHGV charging network in the world.

Under EU laws, HGV drivers must not exceed 4.5 hours of driving without taking a 45-minute break. GRIDSERVE said their project will provide truck drivers with the most powerful EV chargers for these 45-minute windows so that they don’t need to change behaviours.

Sam Clarke, chief vehicle officer at GRIDSERVE, said: "The decarbonisation of the UK truck fleet is one of the greatest disruptors haulage and logistics have ever seen and we are now well under way through this project to catalyse material change.

"In Electric Freightway, we’ll push electric HGVs to their limits to establish just what is possible, while highlighting where there is the need for process, technological or policy innovation to enable the transition to electric. This first report enables us to set out all our ambitions, achievements and challenges to date and set the standard for all to follow.”

The next report from Hitachi ZeroCarbon will be published in summer to track the programme's progress as well as providing insight into the driving cycle efficiency of some of the programme’s eHGVs.