Tunnel vision: young planner orchestrates first eHGV channel crossing

Matthew Scoble, 23, worked with Eurotunnel and LeShuttle for over a year to figure out the health and safety protocols and ensure the electric lorry could cross the tunnel safely.

“Planning the actual trip, however, took less than a day,” he said.

“It mainly involved pinpointing charging stops, routes and overall timings.

“We had to adapt to public infrastructure availability, balancing charging times with transit schedules, ensuring that we were able to meet our depot in Germany in time while still having enough charge to get there and back without missing the schedule or running out of time with our drivers.”

The operation was part of Generation Logistics sponsor Kuehne+Nagel’s plan to own a fleet that is at least 60% low emission by 2030.

Scoble, despite only graduating from the University of Derby in 2025 with a degree in environmental science and sustainability, was no stranger to Kuehne + Nagel, having completed an industrial placement with the company between his second and third year.

“My time in the placement was spent conducting ESG audits of freight partners, becoming certified as carbon literate and delivering sessions to other industrial placement and graduate scheme peers, and many other sustainability-driven projects,” he explained.

“This helped me get my name out into the wider business, directly leading to me being asked to return to Kuehne+Nagel to fulfil my current role as an eHGV transport planner.

“My new role is all to do with our new eHGVs and charging infrastructure, from planning things like the sector-first Eurotunnel trip to looking after the day-to-day running and reporting of the vehicles.”

Adrian Szewczyk, the driver of the first eHGV to cross the Channel Tunnel, said: “It genuinely felt like history in the making.

“Driving an eHGV through the Channel Tunnel was a powerful moment, not just because we were the first, but because it showed what’s possible when innovation, infrastructure and collaboration come together.”

Bethany Windsor, Generation Logistics programme director said the trip opened the door for fleets of electric HGVs to eventually make the journey.