The latest report from the Electric Freightway Project shows progress in charging infrastructure for electric heavy goods vehicles, but lacks key quantitative information, including the number of charging stations deployed, the scale of infrastructure investment and specific performance metrics comparing eHGVs to diesel trucks, warns Gridserve.
Hitachi ZeroCarbon and GRIDSERVE have issued the second report for the Electric Freightway Project, highlighting significant advancements toward deploying electric Heavy Goods Vehicles (eHGVs) as part of the UK’s net-zero emissions strategy.
The Electric Freightway initiative, led by GRIDSERVE and part of the Department for Transport’s Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator programme, was initially outlined in March 2024. The latest report details steps taken by the consortium, which includes more than 30 members, to advance eHGV infrastructure and deployment.
Since the initial report, fleet operators including A.F. Blakemore and Son, Samworth Brothers, Boughey, and United Utilities have begun incorporating eHGVs into their fleets. Hitachi ZeroCarbon has developed a data platform to compare eHGV and diesel truck performance, with analytics set to guide wider eHGV adoption in the future.
“Our analysis of environmental benefits alongside total cost of ownership will help provide a strong investment case for future eHGV deployments,” said Leon Clarke, Head of Operations and Delivery at Hitachi ZeroCarbon. “We fundamentally believe that smart, actionable data can underpin enhanced battery health, fleet route planning and charging sessions, and so accelerate the path to electrification. We are enabling logistics companies to compare total cost of ownership to make the investment case for transitioning their fleets to EVs.”
The consortium has also made progress in designing eHGV-specific charging stations, with GRIDSERVE leading efforts to set up both depot-based and public high-power sites. These charging stations are expected to become operational in the coming months. In addition, industry interviews revealed initial perceptions among fleet managers and drivers, who anticipate benefits like reduced noise and lower environmental impact but express concerns over range and charging accessibility.
“With Electric Freightway, we are writing the rule-book on the development and deployment of public and private eHGV infrastructure in real-time,” stated Sam Clarke, GRIDSERVE’s Commercial Lead. “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. Since the last report we have made tangible progress, and have conducted extensive planning and preparations to deliver our first milestones of getting eHGVs on the road, and charging stations deployed.”
Beyond physical infrastructure, the report highlights the significance of digital platforms for effective data management and analysis, positioning Hitachi ZeroCarbon’s data insights as a tool to support fleet operators and managers in their transition to electric fleets.
Future of Roads Minister, Lilian Greenwood, underscored the role of eHGVs in reducing emissions within the freight sector, saying,
“Electric HGVs will play a large part in the future of our freight industry, so it’s fantastic to see the successes of the projects detailed in this report. A greener transport network is a key priority for this Government, which is why our demonstrator programme aims to scale up zero emission HGVs and install the right infrastructure to decarbonise road freight. This is an excellent example of industry and government collaborating to reach net zero.”
