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eFREIGHT 2030

Project ongoing

Bringing together leading logistics providers, high street names and leading hauliers, the eFREIGHT 2030 consortium was selected to join the UK government’s Zero emission HGV and infrastructure demonstrator programme. Led by Voltempo, developers of the British designed and manufactured electric HGV megawatt charging system, the eFREIGHT 2030 consortium aims to stimulate the deployment of long haul zero emission HGVs.

The challenge

Most of the freight moved around the UK is carried on trucks and heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) – around 80% of the 200 billion tonne kilometres in 2022. This produced 20% of all the UK’s domestic transport greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2021.

In November 2021, the UK government committed to ending the sale of new non-zero emission HGVs weighing under or equal to 26 tonnes by 2035, with all new HGVs sold to be fully zero emission at the exhaust by 2040. The Future of Freight: a long-term plan confirmed the government would develop a plan for zero emission HGV infrastructure rollout.

The innovation

In October 2023, the government invested £200 million across four innovative green projects to roll out up to 370 zero emission HGVs and help set road freight on the path towards Net Zero.

Delivered in partnership with Innovate UK, the £200 million government investment from the zero emission HGV and infrastructure demonstrator programme will also deliver around 57 refuelling and electric charging sites, providing the crucial infrastructure to help the haulage sector decarbonise.

The eFREIGHT 2030 consortium brings together market leaders from the transportation and low carbon energy industries including Voltempo, Kuehne+Nagel (UK) Limited, Wincanton Group Limited, and Maritime Transport Limited.

The consortium will introduce 100 electric HGV 4×2 and 6×2 tractor units, and 32 new charging locations, all of which will have megawatt-charging capacity from day one.

The project is set to create up to 200 new jobs by 2030 and provide Birmingham with one of the UK’s first electric vehicle charging hubs dedicated to HGVs.

As a consortium partner, Energy Systems Catapult will ensure that the eFREIGHT 2030 trials can gather the evidence required to understand the challenges and opportunities, across stakeholders, and operations of electric HGVs in the real world. The Catapult will also provide detailed analysis and insight to support a commercially successful and rapid decarbonisation of the freight sector.

Findings from the project are already paying dividends. A report – Electric Heavy Goods Vehicles? Industry perspectives on the prospects for their adoption in the UK – commissioned by Voltempo and produced by Energy Systems Catapult explore the potential for the UK road freight sector to transition to Net Zero carbon dioxide emissions in its HGV operations.

The research consisted of semi-structured interviews with managers involved in sustainability strategy within organisations operating HGVs in the UK, and one interview with a manager from a major HGV manufacturer.

eFREIGHT insight

Follow along as we accelerate zero-emission road freight – Lowri Williams

We’re publishing four new reports and launching two open-access interactive resources that will unlock the underlying business models needed to bring electric HGVs (eHGVs) and charging infrastructure to real fleets, and sharing the insights needed to electrify the nation’s road freight.

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A national plan for eHGV charging – Beth Warnock

Charging facilities for eHGVs will need to be deployed across the whole country to enable charging in depots and on the road. If charging facilities are being delayed in some areas this could have a knock-on effect on the national network, and ultimately the viability of electrification as a transition option for the sector.

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Download our eFREIGHT reports and guides

Reports and guides

As the eFREIGHT 2030 project rolls out, we will be publishing more insightful analysis and research. Reports and publications will be made available to download here, so keep checking back for the latest updates.

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Electric Heavy Goods Vehicles? Industry perspectives on the prospects for their adoption in the UK

This report summarises the findings of qualitative research carried out by the Catapult, commissioned by Voltempo, to explore the potential for the U.K. road freight sector to transition to net zero carbon dioxide emissions in its Heavy Goods Vehicle operations.

Download

To download this file, we would be grateful if you could tell us a little about yourself.

We use this information for internal research purposes to help us better understand which energy sector stakeholders are interested in which areas of our work. We do not share your details with any third parties.

If you do not wish to complete the form, please email communications@es.catapult.org.uk to request a digital copy.

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eHGV Charger Connections Guide

This comprehensive guide aims to demystify the complexities surrounding the connection of electric HGV (eHGV) chargers to the UK’s electricity network, offering vital insights into the necessary steps, costs, and challenges involved.

Download

To download this file, we would be grateful if you could tell us a little about yourself.

We use this information for internal research purposes to help us better understand which energy sector stakeholders are interested in which areas of our work. We do not share your details with any third parties.

If you do not wish to complete the form, please email communications@es.catapult.org.uk to request a digital copy.

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eHGV Purchasing Options and Considerations

This report is aimed at fleet operators looking to navigate the transition with greater confidence, the report offers an in-depth analysis of the financial hurdles and practical solutions that can help guide informed procurement decisions.

Download

To download this file, we would be grateful if you could tell us a little about yourself.

We use this information for internal research purposes to help us better understand which energy sector stakeholders are interested in which areas of our work. We do not share your details with any third parties.

If you do not wish to complete the form, please email communications@es.catapult.org.uk to request a digital copy.

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eFREIGHT 2030 eHGV Charger Connections case study

To prepare for trials of electric Heavy Goods Vehicles (eHGVs), the eFREIGHT 2030 project lead, Voltempo, has been applying for connections to the electricity networks for high-capacity chargers throughout the country.

Download

To download this file, we would be grateful if you could tell us a little about yourself.

We use this information for internal research purposes to help us better understand which energy sector stakeholders are interested in which areas of our work. We do not share your details with any third parties.

If you do not wish to complete the form, please email communications@es.catapult.org.uk to request a digital copy.

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eFREIGHT 2030 Business Model Options and Considerations for Depot-Based Charging

The eFREIGHT 2030 consortium, which is steering the UK’s shift to electric heavy goods vehicles (eHGVs), has released a detailed report on business model options to facilitate the rollout and adoption of eHGVs. Aimed at fleet operators looking to identify charging solutions that best align with their operational needs, report evaluates a range of business models that can help address some of the identified barriers.

Download

To download this file, we would be grateful if you could tell us a little about yourself.

We use this information for internal research purposes to help us better understand which energy sector stakeholders are interested in which areas of our work. We do not share your details with any third parties.

If you do not wish to complete the form, please email communications@es.catapult.org.uk to request a digital copy.

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COMING SOON: The Road Ahead: National system impacts of HGV decarbonisation

This report will answer how the UK’s HGV fleet evolve. It will lift the lid on the potential  infrastructure and energy demands that could lie ahead. The report will explore the results of our national HGV scenario modelling, highlighting the scale of change required, the key transition points, and will offer tailored recommendations for fleet operators, chargepoint providers, energy networks and government. We’ll also launch an interactive dashboard so you can explore scenarios and insights for yourself (but more on that later).

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COMING SOON: Connecting HGVs and Electricity: Enabling systems and sites for eHGV charger integration

Electrifying HGVs isn’t just about vehicles. It’s about connecting depots and charging hubs to the electricity network. And this needs to be done efficiently and affordably if we’re to reach our desired destination. This report will unpack system-level challenges, offer case studies of  from real sites within the trial, and offers clear, actionable recommendations for those in the transport and energy sector.

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COMING SOON: Accelerating the Transition: A business modelling perspective for eHGV scale-up

Based on direct feedback from fleet operators, this report will dive into the business model features that matter most for those buying eHGVs and investing in depot-based and public charging. It will provide a strategic call to action for industry and policymakers alike.

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COMING SOON: Navigating Net Zero Road Freight: Stakeholder insights for HGV decarbonisation

Our fourth report will captures the views, uncertainties and recommendations from across the sector. It will explore where live trials are answering key research questions and where gaps remain for future work.

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COMING SOON: National Impacts Modelling Dashboard

Explore our national future freight scenarios interactively.

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COMING SOON: Pre-feasibility eHGV Financial Assessment Tool

An Excel-based tool to help fleet operators estimate costs, payback periods and carbon savings for different transition pathways.

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Whole systems approach to helping the transport and energy sectors integrate their physical, market, digital, and policy systems.

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