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M&S to roll-out ten new DAF XD electric trucks across core operations
M&S and its transport subsidiary Gist have commenced the roll-out of ten new DAF XD Electric tractor units, marking a significant next step in the retailer’s transition from electric truck trials to scaled zero tailpipe emission operations.
Operations news
First permanent electric lorries join Menzies Distribution’s fleet
Menzies Distribution Solutions (MDS) has taken on three 42-tonne electric Scania tractor units – the first eHGVs to become a permanent part of its fleet.
Chiltern harnesses power of sun for trailer work
Chiltern Distribution has taken on two temperature-controlled trailers from TIP Group, fitted with Sunswap’s Endurance units powered by a combination of onboard batteries and roof-mounted solar panels.
Toyota joins Daimler Truck and Volvo fuel cell venture
Toyota is to become an equal shareholder in hydrogen fuel cell joint venture Cellcentric, alongside Daimler Truck and Volvo group in a move aimed at accelerating the development of hydrogen-powered trucks.
Service, not price, may decide Chinese electric truck sales in the UK
A Chinese electric tractor can now be ordered in the UK for £139,000 after grant support, but industry specialists say servicing, parts supply and residual values may matter more than the badge or headline price.
Energy news
Pan-economy ‘Electrification Action Plan’ could speed eHGV deployment across EU
The European Union is doubling down on plans to electrify across the economy, arguing that the change would mean “substantial benefits for the EU economy and citizens”. A new ‘Electrification Action Plan’ includes a raft of measures affecting the freight sector, but it remains to be seen whether they will ...
Freight urged to engage now on electricity network plans
Local electricity networks are writing their five-year business plans now. Do they understand the needs of an electrified freight industry in 2033?
Could battery swap be a complement to charging?
Recent reports from the globe’s major markets of China and the USA have highlighted a potential divergence in the route to electrifying HGVs.
EU pushes for faster installation of eHGV charging facilities across Europe
Network operators Entsoe-e and DSO Entity have launched a digital portal showing where grid capacity exists for eHGV charging points across Europe. The move supports EU efforts to accelerate heavy-duty vehicle charging rollout, with 22,500 battery electric trucks now registered and 2,000 public charging points operational.
Must read
Manufacturers urged to be ready to beat new competitors when electric re-fleeting takes off
By 2034, the electric HGV market will be larger than that of the fossil-fuelled market and bus and truck makers “need to position themselves now as leaders of the transition to electric buses and trucks with a pragmatic ‘re-fleeting’ strategy” according to a new analysis. The change will position e-truck ...
Iveco offers multiple routes for fleets’ decarbonisation journey
Continuing its open minded approach to decarbonisation, Iveco is committed to offering multiple fuel solutions to help operators find the right powertrains to work for their business. To get an update on where Iveco is with its product line up and future decarbonisation plans, Freight Carbon Zero caught up with ...
‘Game-changing’ partnership between Milence and Paua set to advance eHGV charging
Fleet charging network Paua has partnered with Milence in order to integrate its high-power charging network for electric lorries into its platform.
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Insights
Solid-state truck batteries: promising technology but not yet fleet-ready
As solid-state battery development accelerates, fleet decision-makers face a clear message from engineers and charging specialists: the technology holds genuine long-term promise for eHGVs, but LFP remains the only bankable option today — with LMFP and sodium-ion the next steps on the road.
Freight urged to engage now on electricity network plans
Local electricity networks are writing their five-year business plans now. Do they understand the needs of an electrified freight industry in 2033?
Deafening Milence: Why the UK is falling behind in Europe’s electric truck revolution
Milence is rolling out a pan-European network of charging hubs for electric trucks, but as CEO Anja van Niersen explains, infrastructure alone will not drive uptake without the right conditions in place
Charging ahead? Why infrastructure must keep pace with EV demand
In February the first electric HGV crossed the English Channel. It was a symbolic moment, but also a practical one. It showed that long-distance electric freight is genuinely possible, potentially opening the door to a new era of green, long-haul transport.
Viewpoints
Electric HGV rollout hindered by infrastructure and utilisation gaps
Electric HGV adoption is being hampered by charging infrastructure shortfalls and a critical ‘utilisation gap’, warns Pall-Ex’s Paul Pegg. Despite trials showing promise in high-density regional routes, limited range, charging times and policy uncertainty continue to challenge the commercial viability of fleet-wide electrification.
Battery swapping returns as grid flexibility tool, not speed fix
The case for battery swapping isn’t speed—it’s what those batteries do between truck visits. With CATL running 305 stations in China and UK trials underway at MIRA, the model is being reframed as energy trading infrastructure that happens to serve trucks. But OEM alignment and station economics remain unresolved.
Why the LCV market is hesitating on electric and what fleet operators should do about it
SMMT data reveals a light commercial vehicle market in transition but not in sync with regulatory timelines. Diesel share has dropped sharply, BEV registrations are up 9.5% year-to-date, but operators face fuel volatility, infrastructure delays and a widening gap to the 24% ZEV mandate target for 2026.
EU’s HGV CO2 credit mechanism delays electric truck transition
Brussels has flattened the emissions trajectory for truck manufacturers through 2029 and allowed surplus credits to offset 2030 targets. Industry warns the move removes urgency from electric development while doing nothing to solve the infrastructure crisis constraining uptake.