Energy Systems Catapult has released tools and resources to help HGV fleet operators across the UK accelerate their shift to electric trucks (eHGVs).
Built on real-world insights from government-funded trials involving the deployment of 88 eHGVs and state-of-the-art charging infrastructure across 33 locations, the suite of resources includes an interactive dashboard and financial planning tools to help the UK’s freight sector map its route to electrification.
These resources arrive at the perfect time for fleet operators and energy system players, as the government last week announced a new £1 billion fund for businesses to invest in electric trucks and depot charging infrastructure.
The open-access resources have been developed by Energy Systems Catapult in collaboration with the eFREIGHT 2030 consortium, a group consisting of market leaders from the road freight and low-carbon energy industries.
By sharing lessons across both sectors, the consortium is supporting a rapid and commercially viable decarbonisation of road freight. Central to this will be understanding and planning the investment needed in eHGVs and the supporting infrastructure – from depot-based charging and grid reinforcement to on-site renewable generation and energy storage1.
eFREIGHT 2030, led by megawatt charging infrastructure developer Voltempo, brings together the charging sector, vehicle OEMs and HGV fleets. The Energy Systems Catapult’s modelling and analysis for the project ensures stakeholders across the transport and energy sectors can capitalise on what’s been learned.
Lowri Williams, eFREIGHT 2030 Project Lead for Energy Systems Catapult, said: “These reports and open access tools will help fleet operators, energy network system planners, infrastructure providers, innovators and policymakers grasp the challenges and opportunities of transitioning HGVs to zero emissions. Today, we’re publishing resources that will help all of these stakeholders across sectors to unlock the underlying business models needed to accelerate their adoption of eHGVs.”
The eFREIGHT 2030 consortium, funded through the UK Department for Transport’s £200 million Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID) Programme2, has spent two years proving that eHGVs can replace conventional trucks at scale.
To do so, the consortium has put 88 next-generation eHGVs from Renault Trucks, DAF and Scania on the road, while rolling out Voltempo’s state-of-the-art British-designed 1 MW charging technology across 33 sites.
Today’s fossil-fuelled HGVs play a critical role in the UK’s economy but remain a major source of emissions. In 2023, HGVs were responsible for 16% of the UK’s domestic transport greenhouse gas emissions.
Under government targets, all new HGVs under 26 tonnes must be zero emission by 2035 and all new HGVs of any size must be zero emission by 2040. To stay within the UK’s 7th carbon budget, up to 132,500 articulated eHGVs over 40 tonnes may need to be in operation by 2050. Understanding the actions and interventions required to support this successful rollout is what Energy Systems Catapult, as part of eFREIGHT 2030, has been investigating.
Helping chart a path to meet these targets, the tools and reports released today include:
Lowri Williams said: “Before these projects started two years ago, there were almost no eHGVs over 40 tonnes on UK roads and scant knowledge about how fleet operators and the energy sector would need to work together to reach a Net Zero future. We’re at the start of that journey, and the tools and insights we’re launching today give the stakeholders who need to work together a common language to plan their route ahead.”
Chris Welch, Managing Director of Welch Group, said: “As one of the only SME operators in the ZEHID consortiums, we’ve spent over three years learning what it actually takes to run electric HGVs in general haulage and pallet network operations. The tools and insights the Catapult are releasing today translate that hard-won operational experience into something every fleet operator can act on, regardless of their size or resources. The transition to zero-emission freight can’t depend on every operator figuring it out alone and now, thanks to this work, they don’t have to.”
The eFREIGHT 2030 consortium partners are Voltempo Group, Dynamon, Wincanton Group, Energy Systems Catapult, Kuehne + Nagel, Menzies Distribution Solutions, Expect Distribution, VFS Financial Services, Renault Trucks, DAF Trucks, Scania Finance Great Britain, Maritime Transport, Paccar Financial, Scania (Great Britain), Fleete Group, Tarmac, IJ McGill Transport, Berkley Coachworks, Green Collar and Welch’s Transport.
1. Links to the tools and resources released today:
2. The eFREIGHT 2030 consortium is funded through the Department for Transport’s Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID) Programme and delivered in partnership with Innovate UK. The competition winners were announced in October 2023.
Enquiries
Adam Duckett
Communications Officer
Energy Systems Catapult
Email: Adam.Duckett@es.catapult.org.uk
About Energy Systems Catapult
Energy Systems Catapult is an independent research and technology organisation. The Catapult’s mission is to accelerate Net Zero energy innovation.
Launched in 2015 by Innovate UK, the Catapult has built a team of more than 250 people, with a range of technical, engineering, consumer, commercial, incubation, digital, and policy expertise. The Catapult draws on sector-leading test facilities, modelling tools, and data collected from its back catalogue of more than 500 research projects.
The Catapult uses that ‘whole energy’ system capability to support innovative companies – small and large – to test, trial and scale new products and services. Impact comes when those innovators attract new customers, new investment, and new grants so they can thrive in the future energy system.
Based in Birmingham, Energy Systems Catapult is part of a network of nine world-leading technology and innovation centres, established by Innovate UK. The Catapult Network fosters collaboration between industry, government, research organisations, academia, and many others to transform great ideas into valuable products and services.