Innovate UK has published the first annual report on the Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstration (ZEHID) programme with 550,000 tonnes of freight over 85,000 trips and 2.2 million miles – equivalent of 90 trips around the Earth.
The projects collectively have reduced an estimated 81% in greenhouse gas emissions compared with equivalent diesel operations.
In partnership with WSP, Innovate UK’s report provides a comprehensive overview of the programme’s progress, early findings and future direction.
The programme’s active projects: Electric Freightway, eFreight 2030 and ZENFreight, have so far deployed more than 240 zero-emission trucks and established over 40 charging sites across the UK. By the end of 2026, they are expected to reach around 300 vehicles and 70 infrastructure sites.
Early findings show battery-electric HGVs weighing up to 44 tonnes are operating successfully on commercial routes to every corner of the UK.
The report also sets out the programme’s environmental benefits, and alongside the estimated 81% reduction, there are cumulative CO₂ savings of more than 4,000 tonnes to date.
ZEHID has entered a five-year monitoring and evaluation phase that will run until 2031. It will produce detailed evidence on vehicle performance, infrastructure use, costs, emissions and operational impacts, helping to accelerate the shift to cleaner freight and support the UK’s decarbonisation goals.
Funded by the Department for Transport (DfT), ZEHID is Europe’s largest coordinated demonstration of zero-emission heavy goods vehicles (40 tonne plus) and supporting infrastructure.
Through the deployment of battery electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles across real-world freight operations, ZEHID is generating the evidence needed to support future industry investment, infrastructure planning and policymaking.
Claire Spooner, Director of the Innovation Service, Innovate UK said:
“Zero-emission HGVs are already demonstrating their potential in real-world freight operations across the UK. This first annual report marks an important milestone for the Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID) programme, providing valuable insight into what is working, where challenges remain and what will be needed to support the wider transition to zero-emission freight.”
Sofia Amaral, Business Director for Sustainable Transport, WSP said:
“This first annual report marks an important milestone for the UK’s transition to zero-emission freight. Through our role as independent evaluator, WSP is helping to generate robust, real-world evidence on the performance of zero-emission HGVs and supporting infrastructure at unprecedented scale. These insights will help industry, investors and policymakers make informed decisions about the future of freight decarbonisation.”
