From East Kilbridge to Exeter, Tamworth to Tilbury, and Ballymena to Swansea, new infrastructure will span the length and breadth of the UK, enabling eHGV charging and hydrogen refuelling. The new network of hubs will be integrated into the road transport system with convenient locations at depots, motorway services and arterial roads across the whole of the country.
Over 400 businesses met at the Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrations programme summit in London. Organised by Innovate UK, in partnership with the Department for Transport, the £200 million programme is deploying hundreds of zero-emission HGVs alongside a network of charging and fuelling stations to transform the UK’s freight industry.
A major highlight of the summit was an announcement by the Roads Minister, Lilian Greenwood MP, who unveiled the planned locations of 54 new HGV charging hubs, a pivotal step in accelerating the adoption of green transport solutions.
Speaking the summit, she said the ZEHID programme was delivering on three key areas:
- Deploying zero-emission HGVs
- Rolling out infrastructure
- Gathering real-world data
Each of the hubs is being led by one of the four flagship project partnerships which form the Zero Emission HGV and infrastructure programme:
Simon Buckley, knowledge transfer manager for Zero Emission Mobility said: "The announcement of 54 new HGV charging hubs marks a transformative moment for the UK’s freight industry. By strategically placing these hubs across the country, we are addressing one of the biggest barriers to zero-emission HGV adoption; reliable infrastructure.
"This programme not only accelerates the transition to cleaner transport but also strengthens supply chain resilience, ensuring businesses can move goods sustainably without compromising efficiency."
The RHA has welcomed the announcement of plans for 54 new charging hubs to power zero-emission lorries.
Chris Ashley, RHA senior policy lead, said: “We are very pleased at the announcement of the long-awaited map of Government-funded public electric charging and hydrogen refilling points for zero emission HGVs in the UK.
“This development will give operators more confidence when planning the transition of their fleets to non-diesel vehicles.
“We look forward to seeing more information about these sites and will continue to work with governments, stakeholders and our industry on charting a supportive journey to net zero.”
It was revealed at the summit that the new infrastructure will span the length and breadth of the UK, enabling eHGV charging and hydrogen refuelling. The network of hubs will be integrated into the road transport system with convenient locations at depots, motorway services, and arterial roads across the whole of the country.
