eFREIGHT 2030 consortium announces founding members to shape industry’s zero-emissions future

Expect Distribution, Kuehne+Nagel, Maritime Transport and Welch’s Transport will contribute to the consortium’s vision to demonstrate how eHGVs can replace their diesel counterparts at scale.

Other founding members include Menzies Distribution, Wincanton, Marks & Spencer, DAF Trucks, Renault Trucks and Scania.

eFREIGHT 2030 chairman Sir Vince Cable, said: “The bringing together of so much operational and technical experience within the eFREIGHT 2030 consortium offers a unique opportunity to decarbonise the road freight transport sector in the coming months and years.

“We look forward to sharing many specific examples as the programme advances.”

The consortium will introduce 100 of the latest HGV tractor units and 32 new charging locations over the next few years.

In addition to the consortium fleets, eFREIGHT 2030 also aims to reach out to the wider industry and has reserved a number of vehicles for shorter term use by associate members of the consortium.

Michael Boxwell, group CEO of Voltempo, which heads up eFREIGHT 2030, said, “I am delighted to report that we are on target for our very ambitious decarbonisation targets – we have placed the first vehicle orders for consortium members across the three vehicle manufacturers, the development of the Voltempo Hypercharger Pod continues at pace, and we have undertaken energy assessments for multiple sites to build a roadmap for the roll-out of the eFREIGHT 2030 charging locations.

“As an industry, the progress we are making is remarkable, and it is clear that working collaboratively will be key to accelerate our journey to zero emission HGVs.”