Two announcements from the Department of Transport have put freight decarbonisation in the spotlight.
The extension of the Plug-in Truck Grant is a welcome step. The additional £18 million of funding, offering up to £120,000 per electric truck and running through to March 2026, helps reduce vehicle cost and gives more operators the confidence to start investing in electric HGVs.
Commenting on the announcement, Michael Boxwell from Voltempo, which leads eFREIGHT 2030, said: “The Department for Transport’s ongoing commitment to net zero freight is hugely welcome and this new announcement can benefit fleet operators and their customers as they move towards zero-emission road freight. eFREIGHT 2030 is already delivering on these ambitions with new charging hubs and fleet deployments across the UK.”
Alongside this, the Department for Transport has launched a consultation on the future regulatory framework for decarbonising HGVs, moving the focus beyond short-term support to the longer-term direction of travel.
Across eFREIGHT 2030 and ZEHID, fleet operators are already introducing electric trucks into live operations and building practical experience around charging, routes, utilisation and costs. That activity brings real-world operational insight into the wider discussion as it develops.
It’s the gap between regulatory ambition and operational delivery where industry input will matter most. Have your say here.