From on-street to depots: What on-street charging taught me about electrifying HGVs

When I stepped into the role as Head of Decarbonisation Policy for Logistics UK, I brought with me experience in street public charging.  

It’s tempting to assume that progress in decarbonising cars can serve as a roadmap for HGVs, and to some extent it can, but I very quickly learned the transition from cars to HGVs isn’t just a step up in size, it’s a whole new landscape.  

A mutual destination, different routes. 

Both freight transport and cars are striving toward the same goal of net zero by 2050 – a target set by government legislation, but the route and journey differ whether that be pace, payload, cost or external policy pressures.  

In the car market the roadmap was laid by a clear value proposition for the customer: government grants, growing charging network and lower running costs. Drivers felt relatively empowered to make the switch - even more so with battery range and vehicle options improving. Early adopters led the charge with more and more mainstream consumers following, creating competition and accelerating progress between manufacturers.  

With HGVs, however, the fundamental proposition changes. We aren’t selling a sense of ‘doing the right thing’ or proposing a lifestyle shift - we are redefining critical economic infrastructure. Operators don’t make investment decisions on speculative technologies. They need reliability, certainty and a robust business case that makes sense for their organisations.  

The current challenges: Incentive gaps and infrastructure  

I have been in this role just over a month and it has been an eye-opening and dare I say startling experience. From early discussions, the thing that shocked me most has been how hauliers are willing (even enthusiastic) to decarbonise, which I had not anticipated.  

But they face a very different risk profile to cars. An HGV costs several times more than a car, and downtime isn’t just an inconvenience as part of your journey, it’s lost revenue.  

Whilst for cars, chargepoint delivery can be rather spread and disjointed and still succeed, HGVs need a strategic rollout coordinated across key freight routes. This alongside the need for depot upgrades for grid connections and public charging, potentially needing megawatt solutions, highlights that this is no small task and will not be a quick win.  

The next challenge is policy clarity. The car market benefitted from a strong early narrative including tax incentives, clear policy direction and growth in supporting infrastructure. The logistics industry is still waiting for equivalent signals from government to build long term confidence.  

What the car market can teach us  

Despite the differences, there are still some critical lessons we can take from cars: 

1. Consumer confidence matters: Consumers only started to move when they trusted the technology, saw visible charging infrastructure, and heard a consistent message, and contrary to what is constantly being rumoured in the media, the industry is growing. The HGV sector needs the same: clearer policies, visible pilots, and peer learning from early adopters.  

2. Simplicity works best: Car incentives were easy to understand and claim. Government funding needs to be streamlined and not bury operators with paperwork and bureaucracy.  

3. Visibility is key: Green tags on number plates and seeing EVs on the road reassures drivers and normalises behaviours. Similarly for HGVs, media campaigns, fleet branding and on road visibility will help build industry confidence.  

The sector’s strengths  

Like many people, I was guilty of overlooking the sector prior to joining Logistics UK. We have a tendency to take for granted things we understand as routine.  

I rarely questioned how my eggs got on the shelf, how my Guinness got in the tap, how my shorts and slippers arrived the following day just in time for my holiday. The sector moves fast and efficiently and doesn’t create the same jeopardy as other industries.  

But this is no accident, this is by design - the industry has been carefully crafted to ensure continuity, and we must ensure the transition to electric HGVs does not disrupt this operational efficiency.  

The sector must be supported in this transition, as operators aren’t just changing one car which is doing a weekly shop and visiting friends and family, they are switching whole fleets and, unlike the car market, the sector is collaborative - we consistently see operators working together, sharing best practice and solutions.  

The appetite is there, the sector just needs the support and once the business case aligns the rollout will be systematic and efficient.  

Collective goals and tailored journey  

The car market has shown us that decarbonisation is possible, but consistency, clarity and commitment are key.  

We now need to apply those learnings to HGVs and freight and recognise that it’s not just the vehicles that are large but the stakes also. With HGV emissions contributing 20% to road transport emissions, getting it right will result in lower emissions, cleaner air and greener cities.  

And as someone who’s moved from predominantly 7-22Kw charging to potentially megawatt charging, the road ahead is long…. but one worth driving. 

Published On: 15/07/2025 12:00:00