Sustainability tech company Gridserve leads ‘Electric Freightway’ drive to accelerate the UK’s transition to electric HGVs, backed by 33 companies including Sainsbury’s, Royal Mail, Volvo, and Amazon.
The project, which is funded by the consortium members, as well as the Department for Transport and Innovate UK backed zero emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator Programme, is worth over £100 million and will run until 2030.
It will include a fleet of electric heavy goods vehicles (eHGVs), as well a a supporting network of chargers.
The programme will see the installation of over 200 chargers capable of delivering 350 kW installed, as well as two one megawatt-capacity chargers. They will be installed in more than 10 commercial depot locations.
Data collected over the first five years of the programme will help to further knowledge which can be used to support the transition towards electric heavy goods vehicles.
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GridSERVE CEO Toddington Harper said: “This is a pioneering project for GRIDSERVE that aims to move the needle in the debate about how to deliver net zero transport for heavy goods vehicles.”
“We look forward to demonstrating and proving that battery powered electric heavy goods vehicles represents the optimum path to choose, delivering significant benefits over other technology routes in respect of ease and scale of deployment, driver experience, and favourable economics.”
Parliamentary undersecretary of state for roads and local transport Richard Holden MP added: “Freight and logistics are the beating heart of our economy and it is only right that we celebrate the sector so that it gets the recognition and support it deserves.”
“From boosting zero emission tech across freight to attracting the future generation of talent to the industry, we are working hard to drive innovation, create jobs and grow the economy by building a brighter, more innovative future for one of our most crucial industries.”
