James Lawton – eFreight 2030

Kuehne+Nagel secures industry first: fully-electric HGV freight channel crossing from Dover to Calais

eFREIGHT 2030 partners Kuehne+Nagel and Renault Trucks, together with P&O Ferries, have made transport history – and the headlines – with the first fully-electric HGV carrying freight across the English Channel from Dover to Calais. The Renault Trucks E-Tech T completed the landmark return journey aboard a P&O Ferries hybrid vessel, earning a spot on the front cover of July 31st edition of Commercial Motor.

This milestone demonstrates that clean transport is not a vision for the future, but a reality already operating on one of Europe’s busiest trade routes.

The Channel has been a vital artery of trade for more than a thousand years. Now, with the support of the UK Government’s Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator programme, it has become next stage for a breakthrough moment in zero-emissions logistics.

The successful cross-border journey marks a turning point for sustainable freight. With the whole industry watching, the message is clear: clean transport is ready to deliver.

As the spotlight from Commercial Motor highlights, this isn’t a glimpse of what’s to come. It’s happening now.

eFREIGHT Autonomous secures funding to explore feasibility of autonomous HGVs on UK roads

11th AUG, 2025 – eFREIGHT Autonomous, a consortium of experts in commercial vehicles and automotive technology, has secured funding and support from the UK Government and industry through the CAM Pathfinder Feasibility Studies (FS) Competition delivered by Innovate UK and Zenzic.

One of 14 projects selected through the competition, eFREIGHT Autonomous will explore the role of autonomous heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) in the UK from the perspective of fleet operations.

By evaluating today’s technology and understanding the direction of future developments, the study aims to identify potential use cases, assess commercial viability, and examine the infrastructure and legislative frameworks required to enable autonomous trucking in the UK.

Led by EV charging specialists, Voltempo Group, developers of the British designed and manufactured electric HGV megawatt charging system, the consortium includes Berkeley Coachworks, designer of the innovative, lightweighted Berkeley Bulldog e-trailer, and data and research partner, Connected Places Catapult. Chairman of the consortium is Sir Vince Cable, former Secretary-of-State for Business, Innovation and Skills who gave the green light to the UK’s first tests of driverless technology in 2014.

Sir Vince Cable said: “We are delighted to have been selected to take part in the CAM Pathfinder feasibility study to research, evaluate and help shape the future of UK freight transport from the perspective of fleet operators. Autonomous technology offers a chance to unlock innovation across transport, strengthen the UK supply chain and rethink logistics that are cleaner, greener and better for local communities and better for business”

Michael Boxwell, CEO of Voltempo said: “Autonomous vehicles are already in everyday use in parts of China and the US, and trials here in the UK, such as self-driving shuttles in Birmingham and autonomous buses in Scotland, are paving the way for wider adoption by 2027 with the full implementation of the Automated Vehicles Act. For freight operators working on tight margins, this is a chance to understand this transformational technology, help shape its future rollout and explore the real cost-saving opportunities it can deliver for the UK supply chain through improved efficiencies.”

Mark Cracknell, Programme Director at Zenzic, said: “We are thrilled to announce the eFREIGHT Autonomous project, spearheaded by Voltempo, Connected Places Catapult and Berkeley Coachworks, as one of the fourteen exciting CAM Pathfinder Feasibility Studies taking place across the UK. “

“The deployment of Connected and Automated Mobility solutions holds incredible promise – enhancing accessibility, reducing emissions, and fostering a transport network that is both reliable and inclusive. The eFREIGHT Autonomous project will serve as a pivotal example in showcasing those benefits.

“We are looking forward to working with the project consortia as they further develop their business case, demonstrate the commercial readiness of the service, and provide vital insight into the opportunities presented by the deployment of CAM solutions in regions throughout the UK.”

At the end of the project, eFREIGHT Autonomous will produce reports and briefing documents for government and industry that outline the roadmap for autonomous heavy road freight vehicles, identifying potential opportunities, risks, costs and timescales for autonomous vehicles for the road freight industry.

In parallel with the study, consortium member Berkeley Coachworks plans to develop autonomous HGVs at its manufacturing site and test track in Trecwn, Pembrokeshire. Following the publication of its reports, eFREIGHT Autonomous plans to examine the opportunity to create real-world trials with autonomous HGVs, running on UK roads, with the potential is to have autonomous HGVs operational by the end of 2027.

Work on the eFREIGHT Autonomous feasibility study project will begin summer 2025, with results delivered early 2027.

The founding members of the eFREIGHT Autonomous consortium, and Chair, Sir Vince Cable, are also members of eFREIGHT 2030, part of the Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstration programme funded by Department for Transport and delivered in partnership with Innovate UK. eFREIGHT 2030 is currently rolling out electric HGVs and the first phase of an eHGV charging network across the UK, learning how electric trucks can work within real world environments.

Tarmac and TVS Interfleet join eFREIGHT 2030 consortium

New members to demonstrate electric vehicles in challenging use cases

eFREIGHT 2030, part of the UK Government’s Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator Programme (ZEHID), has announced Tarmac and TVS Interfleet (TVS) as the latest members of its consortium, which aims to shape the future of zero emission HGVs.

Tarmac and TVS join the fourteen founding members of the eFREIGHT 2030 consortium, part of the ZEHID Programme funded by the Department for Transport and delivered in partnership with Innovate UK. The eFREIGHT 2030 project is introducing 100 electric HGV tractor units and 32 new charging locations over a multi-year real world evaluation that will pave the way for zero emission transport.  

As part of eFREIGHT 2030, Tarmac will add five eHGVs equipped with a range of trailers to supply its cement, aggregate, asphalt and plant movements. With zero tailpipe emissions, the eHGVs align with Tarmac’s strategy to develop integrated low-carbon logistics solutions and will demonstrate how electric vehicles can work in more challenging use cases such as construction. Additionally, Tarmac is developing a fast-charging network around the London area which will enable truck range to be increased, match the duty cycle of its existing fleet and accelerate the decarbonisation of material deliveries to customers.

TVS Interfleet company Wilcox Commercial Vehicles will supply one of the trailers for aggregate and asphalt movements, and this will be equipped with a new Tipper Active Safety System (TASS) with passive and active safety controls to increase the safety of the trailer during its tipping operations.

The eHGVs, four Renault Trucks and one DAF, will join Tarmac’s pioneering eDiscovery Programme, which allows supply chain partners to lease an electric truck for a six month period, enabling them to evaluate the vehicle’s performance in their operation before committing to a long-term investment.

Ben Garner, Head of Logistics at Tarmac, said; “We are delighted to join the eFREIGHT 2030 consortium, reiterating our commitment to our sustainability goals and reducing emissions across our logistics network. At Tarmac, we are focused on delivering innovative, low-carbon solutions that support our transition to net-zero, and our partnership with TVS Interfleet and our OEM partners enables us to continue our drive toward decarbonising the construction sector. By bringing eHGVs into these demanding aspects of Tarmac’s operations and working with like-minded partners through eFREIGHT 2030, it further strengthens our ability to create a greener construction supply chain.”

Andrew Scott, Product Director at TVS Interfleet, commented: “Joining eFREIGHT 2030 enables us to extend the partnership with Tarmac which saw us develop the UK’s first electric concrete mixer. As with that initiative, where we were able to develop enhanced safety systems for a familiar construction vehicle, we look forward to doing the same for the Wilcox tipping trailer. We look forward to working again with Tarmac to demonstrate a more sustainable future for the construction industry.”

Michael Boxwell, Group Chief Executive Officer at Voltempo Limited which leads the eFREIGHT 2030 consortium, added: “We are delighted to welcome Tarmac and TVS Interfleet to the eFREIGHT 2030 consortium. The addition of electric construction vehicles to the ZEHID programme, including their deployment at several of Tarmac’s Greater London sites, is an exciting milestone. With TVS Interfleet, Tarmac continue to lead the decarbonisation of the construction sector and we are delighted to bring their innovation and ambition into the ZEHID programme and to further extend the reach of eHGVs into the most demanding transport sectors.”

Dr Isabella Panovic, Programme Manager – Zero Emission Road Freight, Innovate UK, said: “eFREIGHT 2030 is a transformative project that is paving the way for zero-emission freight transport in the UK. The addition of Tarmac and TVS Interfleet to the consortium brings valuable expertise in construction logistics and vehicle innovation, further strengthening our ability to demonstrate the real-world viability of electric HGVs. Innovate UK is proud to support this initiative, which will accelerate the transition to sustainable, low-carbon freight and contribute to the UK’s net zero ambitions.”