From DPD’s real-world trials to Amazon’s record-breaking order of electric HGVs, the freight sector is speeding toward a cleaner, quieter future. But is progress happening fast enough — and are we doing everything we can to support it?
Electric HGVs (eHGVs) are no longer just a future concept. In the UK, they’re already out on the roads, marking a crucial step toward decarbonising how we move goods. As these vehicles move from pilot projects into everyday operations, they represent something bigger: a reimagining of how we power fleets, move freight, and design the infrastructure that underpins a net-zero economy.
The stakes are high: freight generates around 19% of the UK’s domestic transport emissions — with road freight responsible for 5%. Shifting to electric trucks offers a meaningful way to bring that number down, while improving air quality in towns and cities and reducing noise pollution across both urban and rural routes.
It’s already happening. DPD, one of the UK’s largest delivery companies, has begun trialling electric double-decker HGVs in collaboration with MAN Truck & Bus UK. The vehicle, the MAN eTGX, boasts a range of up to 800 kilometres and ultra-fast charging up to 750 kW — putting long-haul electric logistics within reach. Based at DPD’s Hinckley hub, the trials aim to put the theory to the test and determine how these vehicles perform in a live, demanding network.
There’s also ‘Project Jolt’, led by Professor David Cebon at the University of Cambridge, which is collaborating with 14 fleets nationwide to explore how HGVs can transition to greener, more sustainable solutions.
“The urgency of the climate crisis is driving adoption of electric heavy goods vehicles at a rate that few in the industry would have expected five years ago,” said Professor David Cebon. “There’s still a long way to go to understand how whole fleets and industries can transition to electric heavy goods vehicles in a technically feasible way.”
Amazon is making its own statement. With an order of over 140 Mercedes-Benz electric HGVs and eight from Volvo, it’s made the largest electric HGV investment in the UK to date. This is part of a £300 million commitment to decarbonising its delivery operations by 2040.
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Despite these bold moves, the road to fully electric freight is far from smooth. As Nikola Hagleitner, CEO of Post & Parcel Germany at DHL Group, explained in a recent article for the World Economic Forum, “The shift to zero-emission propulsion in medium and heavy-duty transport is inevitable in the long term.” But, she adds, “It will take another five to ten years before electric trucks are significantly represented in this segment.” The major hurdle? Grid capacity — or more accurately, the lack of it.
Across the globe, electricity grids are struggling to keep up with the growing demand for EV charging, especially at the scale needed for large fleets. In many areas, inconsistent capacity makes it hard to even run small electric commercial vehicles, let alone heavy-duty trucks. Despite political pledges to invest in infrastructure, progress remains sluggish.
In the UK, things are moving — but slowly. The government has launched a £200 million Zero Emission and Hydrogen Infrastructure Demonstrator programme to support up to 370 zero-emission HGVs and build around 57 new charging and refuelling sites. It’s a welcome step, but one that highlights the scale of what’s still needed to future-proof the grid and keep pace with vehicle innovation.
As McKinsey notes in a recent report, a piecemeal approach won’t cut it. There needs to be holistic, joined-up thinking: aligning vehicle rollouts with charging infrastructure, energy demand, and smart grid solutions. Without that level of planning, momentum risks stalling.
That’s where flexibility comes in.
IMAGE: Tevva’s electric truck. Not every manufacturer has found the road to electrification smooth. Some, like Tevva, have faced financial difficulties in scaling up production — a reminder that innovation alone isn’t enough without the right market and policy support.
Innovations paving the way
Innovative ideas like time-of-day electricity pricing and smarter, more adaptable charging tech could help spread the load. And looking ahead, access to affordable hydrogen will likely be another key piece of the puzzle — especially for routes where battery-electric vehicles may not be practical.
But we don’t have to wait for perfect conditions to take meaningful action. Hagleitner points to battery-electric trucks with diesel-electric range extenders as a pragmatic option that can bridge the gap now. These hybrid-style trucks can significantly reduce emissions while operating reliably on existing infrastructure — offering immediate benefits without sacrificing performance.
In fact, range extender trucks could be crucial for real-world conditions, particularly in colder climates where battery efficiency drops. A technical review by Scania found they can cut emissions by up to 80% compared to diesel trucks — even when still using fossil fuels as backup. Yet, this promising technology remains overlooked. Without financial incentives or policy support, they remain commercially unviable for most operators. It’s a missed opportunity — a low-hanging fruit that could already be delivering big results.
The bottom line? The electric freight revolution is rolling — but it needs more than just new vehicles to succeed. Investment in infrastructure, creative policy solutions, and support for transitional technologies will be critical to keep the momentum going. The next few years will determine whether we just dip a toe into electric logistics — or fully commit to reengineering the system for a cleaner, more resilient future.
References:
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Nikola Hagleitner, How heavy-duty transport can surmount obstacles on the journey to net zero, World Economic Forum (2025)
How heavy-duty transport can surmount obstacles on their journey to net zero | World Economic Forum -
McKinsey & Company, The road to sustainable trucking: How medium- and heavy-duty fleets can decarbonize (2023)
Decarbonizing trucks: A bumpy road ahead | McKinsey -
DPD begins e-HGV road testing with MAN for net zero targets, CXM Today (2024)
DPD Begins e-HGV Road Testing with MAN for Net Zero Targets -
Amazon makes ‘largest ever’ UK order of electric trucks to cut carbon emissions, The Guardian (2025)
Amazon makes ‘largest ever’ UK order of electric trucks to cut carbon emissions | Amazon | The Guardian
