The ZENFreight consortium, part of the UK Government’s Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID) Programme, has deployed its first electric Heavy Goods Vehicle (eHGV).
The move, which comes alongside the commissioning of its first high-capacity electric charging site, sees DFDS introduce the first of its 8 Volvo FM Electric eHGVs into active service from its Sandhills Business Park depot in Liverpool.
The eHGV will operate on a dedicated closed-loop route between the FMCG fulfilment centre in Merseyside, and Liverpool Port.
Sandhills Business Park’s facility features four charging bays, each capable of delivering 360kWh. The Volvo eHGV is able to fully charge in 2 hours, enabling it to complete three to four delivery cycles per day on a single charge.
The site was developed with Independent Connection Provider (ICP) Envevo and represents the first live infrastructure installation under the ZENFreight programme. In the UK, DFDS aims to scale its low-emission transport offerings as demand from customers increases, it said.
This deployment marks the first operational proof point for ZENFreight, it said, which is demonstrating both hydrogen fuel cell (HFCEV) and battery electric HGVs. Led by fleet optimisation experts Dynamon, the consortium comprises operators including DFDS, John G Russell (Transport), Maritime Transport and Gregory Distribution, as well as truck manufacturers such as Volvo, DAF, Scania and Daimler, and academic partner Imperial College London.
Angus Webb, Founder and CEO of Dynamon, said:
“This deployment is a crucial early step in showing that electric freight is not just viable, it’s happening now,” said . “Our goal is to build a nationwide data-driven model for eHGV deployment and charging infrastructure. DFDS’ Sandhills site is the first of many.”
Allan Bell, Vice President Logistics UK & Ireland, DFDS said:
“At DFDS, we’re committed to leading the transition to low-emission road transport. We’re proud to be deploying electric
trucks in the UK, with our first vehicle through ZENFreight now operating on behalf of a key partner.
“Running on a closed circuit, the route is ideally suited for electric and marks a significant step in our decarbonisation journey. Subsequent additions to the fleet will focus on collaboration with customers in the Food, FMCG & Automotive sectors.
“Our on-site charging infrastructure is becoming more robust to support the growth of our electric fleet. However, to enable broader adoption across supply chains and support longer-distance operations, continued investment and cross-sector collaboration are essential.”
Keir Mather MP, Minister for Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation, said:
“We’re backing the lorries that keep Britain moving to make the switch to electric and it’s great to see
ZENFreight roll out its first electric trucks supported by our funding.
“Our £200 million investment will deliver hundreds of zero-emission lorries and new charging infrastructure, helping to secure highly paid, quality jobs across the UK and driving economic growth as part of our Plan for Change.”
Victoria Saunders, Innovation Lead at Innovate UK said:
“The deployment of DFDS’s first electric HGV and charging site is a major milestone not just for ZENFreight project, but for the UK’s transition to net zero freight. It’s proof that with the right partnerships, innovation, and ambition, zero-emission road freight is becoming a reality.
“Innovate UK is proud to support this programme as part of ZEHID, ensuring the UK leads the way in delivering cleaner, smarter logistics.”
Image courtesy of ZENFreight
