UK Transport Minister Trudy Harrison has announced over £200 million of government funding for an extensive zero-emission road freight demonstrator programme. The announcement was made at the Logistics UK’s Future Logistics Conference on 12 May, 2022.

The three-year trial will begin later this year to help decarbonise the UK’s freight industry, with initial competitions for battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell technology launching shortly.

This could see hundreds more zero-emission HGVs rolled out across the nation and save the industry money, thanks to overall running costs of green vehicles being cheaper than petrol and diesel equivalents.

The transition to zero-emission trucks will also help improve air quality, create greener jobs and deliver on COP26 pledges, while reducing reliance on imports of foreign oil. Eliminating fossil fuels from road freight and improving the UK’s energy supply resilience will help to protect drivers and businesses from increasing global energy prices.

The demonstrations will help gather evidence on the future refuelling and recharging infrastructure needed to drive the smooth transition to a zero-emission freight sector by 2050. Transport Minister Trudy Harrison said: “Our road freight industry is one of the most efficient in the world and contributes over £13 billion to the UK economy each year. But we must accelerate our journey towards our net zero goals, and we’re committed to leading the way globally on non-zero emission road vehicles.”

Michelle Gardner, Acting Deputy Director – Public Policy, Logistics UK, said: “Logistics businesses are committed to decarbonising their operations, but to ensure a smooth transition they need clarity on the path to zero tailpipe emission HGVs. The trials will play a crucial role in identifying the right technological solutions to help enable this.”

Photo: Trudy Harrison.