More than 250 exhibitors came together, to explore the technologies and policies needed to decarbonise road transport.
With commercial vehicles responsible for 36% of all road transport CO₂ emissions and 12% of the UK’s total, the challenge is immense. However, there are plenty of opportunities, as highlighted across the landmark speeches and seminars, where OEMs, policymakers, infrastructure experts and operators united to discuss and give guidance on how to accelerate the shift to zero-emission vehicles.
Innovation on display: OEMs lead the charge
Product launches from Renault, Farizon, and Isuzu reflected the sector’s commitment to electrification. From purpose-built BEVs to electric refrigerated vans and smart fleet tools, innovation was front and centre. Ford UK revealed 1 in 4 of its vans will be electric by next year, while Renault reinforced its new partnership with Flexis, an upcoming all-electric CV platform.
Yet despite this momentum, uptake remains behind target. Just 6.3% of new vans are currently electric, though this is forecast to rise to 9.6% in 2025 and 15.2% in 2026. With only 0.5% of HGVs currently decarbonised, progress in the heavy sector is slower still.
Policy direction from SMMT and RHA
Opening the Show, Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, praised industry progress but warned that fundamental barriers persist.
“The pace of transition needs to accelerate. Grid connections are too slow. All depots must be connected. Four public HGV chargers nationwide is nowhere near enough. We need consistent planning policy, and action on energy costs, which are 60% higher than the European average. Operators cannot make a compelling case for investment until those costs come down.”
Chris Ashley, RHA senior policy lead, also launched a roadmap focused on five priorities: cost, infrastructure, vehicle performance, skills and mindset. He said that the shift will require up to £100 billion of investment and a clear plan to ensure working vehicles stay operational while adopting zero-emission alternatives.
Public and private voices unite in the EV Café Village
At the EV Café Village, operators and local authorities shared real-world experience from the front lines of fleet decarbonisation. Speakers from National Grid, DRAX Electric, Scottish Water and Dawson Group called for infrastructure-first strategies, driver engagement, phased depot upgrades and clear stakeholder mapping.
Electrification isn’t just about vehicles, they argued, it requires cultural change, planning permissions, energy expertise and local collaboration. Spokespeople from local authorities including Islington, Oxford, Nottingham, and Suffolk County echoed this sentiment, positioning fleet transition as a wider investment in public health and sustainability, not just compliance.
Meanwhile, speakers from Innovate UK highlighted progress through the Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID) programme, which supports more than 300 battery electric and hydrogen trucks and has already led to over 230 vehicle orders. The Battery Electric Truck Trial (BETT), deploying 20 DAF electric trucks across public sector fleets, was hailed as a UK-first success story.
The HGV challenge: hard but not impossible
The HGV segment remains a significant hurdle. Despite more than 30 zero-emission HGV models now on the market, operators are hesitant due to infrastructure gaps, high up-front costs and total cost of ownership uncertainties. Just four public HGV chargers are live in the UK, and depot upgrades remain slow and expensive.
Amy Stokes, Volvo Trucks head of e-Mobility, said battery electric trucks are more than capable and have been in use since 2019, but progress is hindered by slow infrastructure development. She noted that hubs like Immingham mark vital first steps, but more government and private support is needed to expand the model.
Hydrogen was also acknowledged as a future option for long-haul or heavy-duty use, but the consensus remains that the majority of HGVs will be battery electric within the decade.
The road ahead
CV Show 2025 brought together over 70 expert-led seminars, sparking action, ideas and collaboration. It made clear that the path to net zero will not be an easy one, but it is happening. From depot electrification to upskilling engineers, and cross-sector partnerships to policy reform, the CV Show made the industry aware that the commercial vehicle sector is ready to lead.
• Full show report coming in the June edition of Transport Engineer
