🕒 Article read time: 2 minutes
Electric trucks and vans increase
The logistics sector continues to drive towards net zero with news that the number of electric trucks and vans on the UK’s roads increased by almost a third from 2023-2024.
Independent research by consultancy Inverto has shown that there are now almost 89,000 electric freight vehicles at work across the country, compared with just under 68,000 in the previous year.
However, there is still some way to go if the UK is to achieve the government’s stated net zero aim, as these electric vehicles represent only 1.4% of the total 6.2 million freight vehicles currently being used in the UK.
Experts predict that the expansion of the commercial EV fleet will remain slow while logistics firms face a high cost of purchasing or leasing EV fleets. Kiren Pandya at Inverto pointed to high interest rates currently making it more difficult for fleet operators to finance wholesale commercial fleet switching.
Speaking at the launch of the government’s
Alexander said: “The shift to electric vehicles represents a huge opportunity for this country, not solely because of the carbon saving potential of these vehicles.
“Allowing vehicles to run on electricity reduces our reliance on imported fossil fuel. This helps to shield the UK from global geopolitical shocks, as the energy used to power our vehicles can be produced domestically.”
Meanwhile utility provider Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) Distribution is converting its existing fleet to run on Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) to reduce emissions.
SSEN Distribution aims to have a zero-emissions fleet by 2030 and is using HVO to cut emissions while vehicle manufacturers develop electric or hydrogen vehicles with the range, payload and towing capabilities that the company requires for its operations.
A successful trial with HVO involving more than a dozen operational vehicles based at depots in Poole and Perth covered a total of 52,000 miles and was carried out with the consent of manufacturers who approved the use of HVO in the vehicles concerned. And the impact of the switch was impressive, with emissions of carbon monoxide and particulate matter reduced by 30%, of nitrous oxide by 10% and all associated greenhouse gas emissions by 7.9%.
“The SSEN trial shows the efficiency and versatility of alternative fuels when operating commercial vehicles,” says Michelle Gardner, Logistics UK’s Deputy Policy Director. “As our sector considers ways to decarbonise swiftly and efficiently, it is vital that operators consider all the evidence available when choosing alternatively fuelled options to ensure that performance is not compromised in the process.”
Photo credit: SSEN
Published On: 17/07/2025 15:00:00
Comments Section
If you are a Logistics UK member login to add comments.
