The Delivering Decarbonisation conference takes place on 21 November at America Square Conference Centre in London and is designed to give delegates the knowledge and information required to plan their business strategy.

There will be a series of panel discussions and keynote speeches and Logistics UK said the line-up included Lord Callanan, minister for energy, efficiency and green finance; Dr Russell Fowler, senior manager at National Grid; Malcolm Wilkinson, head of energy at National Highways and Alan McKinnon, professor of logistics.

Topics include how to approach decarbonisation of HGV operations in the UK, how the government is supporting businesses, views from the OEMs, creating an EV adoption strategy and the infrastructure required for HGV decarbonisation.

Michelle Gardner, deputy director of policy at Logistics UK said: “The logistics industry is undergoing profound changes and is becoming increasingly complex as we strive for decarbonisation.

“In recognition of the significance of this transformation, we are delighted to host Delivering Decarbonisation, an essential conference – that proved to be extremely popular last year – for senior logistics leaders and decarbonisation experts.”

The event is £199 + VAT for Logistics UK members and £239 + VAT for non-members.
More information on the event can be found at: www.logistics.org.uk/deliveringdecarbonisation

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Transport & Environment (T&E) said that despite the government announcing £200m of funding for truck decarbonisation projects, it paled into insignificance compared to EU progress.

It said the UK had plenty of ambition but was lacking in action, citing an EU-wide law that ensured by 2025 there would be charging stations for HGVs every 60km along the core network in Europe and every 100km on larger, more comprehensive roads.

Complete network coverage is expected by 2030.

T&E added that the EU was also introducing standards that enabled truck makers to ramp up production of zero-emission trucks.

It compared HGV CO2 emissions from UK HGVs in 1990 and in 2021 and said there had been barely any decrease.

“The UK is in real danger of losing any competitive edge it has on truck decarbonisation”, said Richard Hebditch, T&E UK director.

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“It’s vital that the UK stays in the race as there is a flourishing industry behind e-HGV production, charging and battery supply that the UK could tap into.

“The government seems to be tiptoeing around major issues when it comes to transport decarbonisation and HGVs are a major opportunity, it would be silly and short-sighted to continue to pay them such little attention.”

The thinktank’s comments came as research by BP found that despite the majority of fleet managers believing decarbonisation was a positive move for their business, there remained significant concerns about the availability of alternative fuels and charging infrastructure.

BP said over half (53%) of HGV fleet managers said they had already begun their journeys to net zero but the same proportion questioned whether there would be enough renewable diesel to cater for demand.

A further 42% said they had concerns around recharging electric trucks during long-haul journeys.

Adrian Brabazon, head of UK fleet solutions at BP, says: “It’s encouraging to see that many HGV fleet managers are feeling positive about decarbonisation.

“At BP with our integrated approach and strong presence in traditional fuels, EV charging, and bioenergy, we are planning to develop a network of dedicated hubs for HGVs that will offer a selection of fuelling options, as well as better facilities for drivers.”

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The committee is also demanding an end to the exemption of garbage, construction and small urban trucks from EU emission targets and that trailer manufacturers deliver a 12.5% cut in trailer emission performance by 2030.

While Britain is no longer in the EU, these targets will still impact UK fleet operators because most trucks used in the UK are manufactured in Europe.

MEPs voted for targets to cut the average emissions of new freight trucks by 45% in 2030 and 90% in 2040. For 2035 they called for a 70% target, higher than the 65% proposed by the Commission. They also said the standards should be extended to cover the 20% of heavy-duty vehicle sales which the Commission has proposed to exempt, such as garbage and construction trucks and small trucks designed for city deliveries.

Fedor Unterlohner, freight manager at green think tank Transport and Environment (T&E), said: "MEPs have doubled down on the environment ministers’ support for the draft targets, except they don’t want a fifth of polluting trucks to escape regulation.

"A broad consensus is clearly emerging between lawmakers that these targets are the minimum needed for the truck sector to decarbonise.”

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The MEPs said trailer manufacturers should improve the emissions performance of truck trailers by 12.5% in 2030 – a slightly weaker target than proposed by the Commission.

A separate target for trailers helps reduce the energy required to pull the trailer, ensuring zero-emission trucks can drive even further.

The environment committee followed the Commission and environment ministers in rejecting loopholes for trucks running on e-fuels and biofuels.

Most biofuels are unsustainable and e-fuels are regarded as a last option, only needed for sectors with no other options to decarbonise such as aviation and shipping.

T&E pointed to research which shows synthetic fuels would increase the total cost of ownership (TCO) of trucks by as much as 50%, even when produced in the most optimistic conditions. It also pointed out that these fuels still emit toxic air pollutants harmful to human health.

Unterlohner said: “Lawmakers have again rejected the oil industry’s attempts to waterdown the truck climate targets.

"A loophole for biofuels and e-fuels would ensure as many fossil powered trucks as possible enter the fleet over the coming decades and keep up demand for fossil fuels.

"We call on the Parliament plenary to keep the door closed to these Frankenstein fuels.”

The EU Parliament will decide its position on the CO2 standards for heavy-duty vehicles when it meets in plenary on 21 or 22 November.

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The DAF XB eHGV will be in operation before Christmas; it has a range of up to 350km and can go from a 20% to 80% charge in under 70 minutes.

Evri has also added 12 more bio-CNG Iveco S-Way tractor units to its fleet, bringing the total to 202 natural gas trucks and an additional 20 are being brought in on a temporary basis to support the company’s increased volumes in the run-up to Christmas.

It said it had also taken delivery of 43 long-body rigids, which increased capacity by 25% from 16 to 20 pallets.

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David Landy, Evri head of fleet, said: “We’re excited to get our hands on our first permanent electric HGV.

“I’m really proud of the investment our business continues to make in more sustainable vehicles, and I can’t wait to see what this vehicle can do in a highly demanding environment.

“We’ll be closely monitoring its performance so we can explore which other routes might be suitable for this kind of vehicle.

“Many of our routes require an extensive range to maintain efficiency of the parcel journey, so it’s the toughest area to decarbonise.”

For more stories tracking the industry journey to decarbonisation see our new Freight Carbon Zero website.

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The Fradley, Staffs haulier said it was thrilled to be running two electric trucks, which replace diesel variants and show its commitment to reducing its carbon footprint.

“Volvo has been a consistent brand in our fleet ever since the business was founded and they were always going to be our first choice when specifying our first-ever electric tractor units,” said Paul Hawkins, operations director.

The FM Electrics both feature three electrical motors, generating an output of 666hp and 2,400 Nm of continuous torque, paired with a standard I-Shift gearbox to deliver a smooth and ultra-quiet in-cab driving experience.

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Equipped with the maximum six batteries, the electric FMs offer a range of approximately 300km and can be recharged in two-and-a-half hours.

“We’ve already heard from many of our regular customers who are eager to welcome our new electric tractor units to their sites,” Hawkins added.

“We cannot wait to hit the road.”

The vehicles were supplied by Hartshorne Group.

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Launched following the government’s announcement this week that it would invest £200m in a refuelling and electric charging programme for trucks across the country, Hitachi said it would be providing data and insights over five years.

The company said this will involve analysing routes, vehicle and charging session data, range and charging infrastructure monitoring, as well as total cost of ownership modelling, to support investment business cases for eHGV deployments.

Hitachi ZeroCarbon was chosen as the principal partner of the ‘Electric Freightway’ project announced by the department for transport.d

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The hope is that the demonstration programme will give lorry fleet operators confidence that they can invest in electric versions of their diesel counterparts.

Ram Ramachander, chief executive of Hitachi ZeroCarbon said, “Hitachi is committed to being a climate change innovator and this means bringing our next-generation technologies and strong sector expertise to the Electric Freightway project.

“Freight transport is a large contributor to global CO2 emissions, so decarbonising the sector is vital to meet net zero targets.”

The RHA has welcomed the investment and providing clarity and certainty for operators: “Delivery against the HGV phase out dates set by ministers will require close collaboration amongst the many stakeholders involved and tough decisions may be necessary such as pragmatic exemptions to these dates and tax breaks to lower costs,” added RHA MD Richard Smith.

Logistics UK said it was encouraging to see the government finally making long-awaited progress on its promises to decarbonise the sector: “However ultimately, we need this progress to be faster and support actioned promptly if we are to meet impending decarbonisation deadlines,” said Kate Jennings Logistics UK policy director.

For more stories tracking the industry journey to decarbonisation see our new Freight Carbon Zero website.

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The demonstrator programme will involve a number of major fleet operators, including Menzies Distribution, Eddie Stobart, and Royal Mail, with manufacturers DAF, Volvo, Renault Trucks, and Scania providing the battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell-powered demonstrator trucks.

Innovate UK will lead the programme, which consists of four projects. These include Project Electric Freightway, led by Gridserve, which will demonstrate up to 140 DAF and Volvo battery electric trucks, along with up to 220 chargers, 70% of which will be open-access.

Another participant is Project Zero Emission North (ZEN) Freight, which will demonstrate up to 70 battery electric and 30 hydrogen fuel HGVs. Operators participating in the scheme include Eddie Stobart and Royal Mail.

Meanwhile Voltempo's eFREIGHT 2030 project is partnering with Renault Trucks, Scania and DAF to demonstrate up to 100 battery electric HGVs. Marks and Spencer and Menzies Distribution are some of the operators confirmed to be participating.

The fourth project, Hydrogen Aggregated Logistics (HyHAUL), is being led by Protium. It will deploy around 30 hydrogen fuel cell HGVs onto the M4. Through DfT funding, the HGV fleet will be serviced by one fixed hydrogen refuelling station (HRS) and mobile refuelling in two other locations.

The project has longer-term ambitions to implement two additional permanent hydrogen refuelling stations in Magor and Bridgend, alongside additional hydrogen conversion projects along the M4.

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The funding announcement comes during Freight Week, a government-led initiative which has seen ministers visiting a number of freight stakeholders this week, to understand how the sector can transition to net zero, drive innovation, and create new jobs.

Roads minister Richard Holden visited Voltempo in Birmingham this week. Its eFREIGHT 2030 project aims to create up to 200 new jobs by 2030. 

Michael Boxwell, eFREIGHT 2030 project director, said: “By early 2026, we will have eleven fleets deploying electric HGVs, and a nationwide HGV charging network using British built chargers. Each charge hub will provide at least six charge bays and 1,000kW charging.

"This demonstration programme combined with world-class infrastructure will give fleet operators confidence they can deploy electric HGVs at scale.”

Richard Smith, RHA MD, applauded the initative. He said: “We strongly welcome today’s announcement from the government on the zero emission HGV and infrastructure demonstrator programme.

“The £200m commitment Ministers are putting into this demonstrator significantly helps to de-risk the transition to net zero.

"The real-world demonstrators will answer many of the practical questions operators have and, in turn, give our members the confidence to invest in the zero emission lorries needed to drive down carbon emissions from our sector.”

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As the sole transport provider of hydrogen in the UK and Ireland, XPO is helping to write the National Occupational Standards governing the performance of individuals in the field, along with the knowledge and skills required to work safely and effectively in hydrogen production, storage, and transportation.

Neil Isaacson, Ryze Hydrogen chief executive, said: “After a detailed and rigorous process, XPO was selected as the logistics provider that will help to drive Ryze’s ambitious strategy in the UK.

"We’re excited to work with XPO Logistics starting in 2024, and we look forward to engaging this high-performance partnership for years to come.”

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XPO said Ryze Hydrogen’s focus on providing net zero solutions for companies wanting to decarbonise "resonates strongly" with its push towards Carbon Neutrality by 2040 and Net Zero emissions by 2050 in the UK and Ireland.

Because Ryze Hydrogen’s operational model enables hydrogen fuel to be pumped the same way as traditional fossil fuels, it takes no longer to refuel a hydrogen vehicle than a diesel one, and hydrogen has the same range as fossil fuels.

Dan Myers, XPO UK and Ireland managing director, said: “Both Ryze and XPO recognise the importance hydrogen will play in the energy mix of the future.

"By leveraging both businesses’ respective strengths and working in partnership, we can ensure a robust supply chain that will support the resilience of the UK energy sector.”

The post XPO secures three year exclusive transport deal with Ryze Hydrogen appeared first on Motor Transport.

The study looked at how fleet managers are approaching the challlenge of decarbonsing their fleets and found that the vast majority (82%) see decarbonisation is a positive move for their business, with over half (53%) confirming they have already started the process.

In addition the study revealed that 60% of fleet managers think decarbonising their HGV fleets within the next five to 10 years is a realistic goal, with brand image (72%) and limiting their fleets' impact on the environment (67%) are the biggest motivators.

However, the cost of vehicles (69%) and concerns about the availability of alternative fuels (53%) are the biggest obstacles to decarbonisation. Another 42% raised worries about the ability to recharge electric trucks during long-haul journeys.

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Adrian Brabazon, head of bp UK fleet solutions, said: "It’s encouraging to see that many HGV fleet managers are feeling positive about decarbonisation. At bp with our integrated approach and strong presence in traditional fuels, EV charging, and bioenergy, we are planning to develop a network of dedicated hubs for HGVs that will offer a selection of fuelling options, as well as better facilities for drivers.

“It’s interesting to see that, based on our research, 86% of fleets are already thinking about introducing electric trucks to their fleet. Earlier this year bp pulse announced its plans for Europe’s first public charging corridor to support electric trucks at key sites along Germany’s busiest road freight routes. This investment marks an important milestone on the road to decarbonisation for trucks.”

This research marks the launch of Keep on Trucking, a new campaign to support HGV fleets with decarbonisation, part of bp’s overall plans to help support the electrification of fleets.

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The event will provide an exclusive opportunity to test drive the company’s hydrogen-powered light commercial vehicles (LCVs) on the track at HORIBA MIRA, near Coventry.

Taking place at the end of October, First Hydrogen is set to welcome members from some 20 UK fleet operators that collectively own and manage more than a quarter of a million fleet vehicles.

All attendees will have hands-on access to First Hydrogen's 3.5 tonne demonstrator vehicles and the chance to drive them.

Complete with technical presentations and a vehicle walkaround to showcase the under-the-hood technology, the day will also provide attendees with the opportunity to discuss the practicalities of introducing FCEVs into their own zero emission fleets.

The vehicles have already undergone road trials with fleet management company Rivus and energy company SSE and are currently undertaking operations with major parcel delivery companies.

First Hydrogen said it has already created an appetite for the vehicles with more than 15 major fleet operators who are on the waiting list to trial the vehicles in their own fleets.

The track event will see First Hydrogen to demonstrate the vehicles’ capabilities to multiple organisations in one day.

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This includes showcasing their range of more than 630km (400 miles) on a single refuelling, ease of driving and their ability to carry large payloads without compromising on range in any weather conditions. 

The invitation-only event targets major UK LCV fleet operators including members of the UK Aggregated Hydrogen Freight Consortium (AHFC).

The AHFC is a partnership of UK hydrogen industry and mobility companies, which is led by Element Energy with input from global industrial members of UK H2Mobility.

It works with large fleet operators and the government to accelerate the commercial roll-out of FCEVs and hydrogen refuelling infrastructure to decarbonise high-mileage and heavy-duty van and truck fleets.

The global light commercial vehicle market is projected to reach US$786.5bn (GBP£634.9bn) by 2030, according to a study by consultancy Allied Market Research.

Steve Gill, chief executive at First Hydrogen Automotive, said: “We have been bowled over by the interest we’ve received from fleet operators in trialling our vehicles, with more than 15 companies on the waiting list.

"The race is on for fleets to meet emissions targets and this event gives these fleet managers the opportunity to get behind the wheel and understand the range, use cases and benefits of FCEVs compared to other alternative fuel vehicles.

"Our aim is for attending fleet managers and operational specialists to leave with a clearer view on the capabilities of First Hydrogen and our hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, which will inform decision making on the purchase of zero emissions fleets.

“If we see sustained interest from prospective customers, there is potential for us to use this format as a template for a series of similar track events in the future, with the ambition for us to take the vehicles into Europe and North America.”

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