In the £200m government funded zero emission HGV and infrastructure demonstrator programme, the consortium eFREIGHT 2030 has secured £49.2m.
As one of the four projects supported by the Department for Transport in partnership with Innovate UK, it’s expected to help unlock £500m of private investment by consortium members in electric vehicles and charging hubs by 2030.
The eFREIGHT 2030 project will begin in early 2024 and take seven years to complete. During this time, 100 electric HGV 4x2 and 6x2 40- to 44-tonne tractor units will be rolled out. This will be supported by 32 new charging stations with megawatt-charging capacity from launch.
Chairman of the eFREIGHT 2030 consortium and former secretary-of-state for business, innovation and skills, Sir Vince Cable said: “We are delighted that the eFREIGHT 2030 consortium has been selected to participate in the Zero emission HGV and infrastructure demonstrator programme, to accelerate the EV revolution that will decarbonise heavy duty transport.
“eFREIGHT 2030 will create UK jobs in the industries of the future, as well as unlocking investment into zero emission electric HGVs that meet the pressing need to reduce fossil fuels and improve air quality. We recognise that to create a greener and more sustainable future for road freight transport will require success in developing different zero-emission fuels and welcome the opportunity to demonstrate the contribution which EV technology can bring to bear.”
Michael Boxwell, group CEO of Voltempo said: “We’re delighted to bring together a group of experts in the eFREIGHT 2030 consortium with the ideas and ambition to transform the distribution sector. Their combined experience will both prove the case for today’s technology and create the path to tomorrow’s. We look forward to 2030 when electric commercial vehicles will be commonplace on our roads, and when we can look back on the value of the Government’s investment on Zero emission HGV and infrastructure demonstrator programme.”