At at a progress summit for the Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrations (ZEHID) programme, the UK’s future of roads minister, Lilian Greenwood MP, unveiled the planned locations of 54 new infrastructure hubs around the UK.
These hubs include electric charging and hydrogen refuelling infrastructure, with locations in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Organised by Innovate UK, the ZEHID programme represents an investment of up to £200 million from the Department for Transport (DfT).
The programme’s goal is ‘supporting the development, uptake and demonstration of commercially available zero-emission HGVs, and providing the crucial infrastructure to help the haulage sector decarbonise and transition to a zero-emission road freight sector in the UK’.
According to DfT data, HGVs account for 20% of domestic transport CO2 emissions, highlighting the need to ‘transform the UK’s freight industry’ as the government pursues its target of reaching net zero in the UK by 2050.
Simon Buckley, knowledge transfer manager for Zero Emission Mobility, said: “The announcement of 54 new infrastructure hubs marks a transformative moment for the UK’s freight industry. By strategically placing these hubs across the country, we are addressing one of the biggest barriers to zero-emission HGV adoption; reliable infrastructure.
“This programme not only accelerates the transition to cleaner transport but also strengthens supply chain resilience, ensuring businesses can move goods sustainably without compromising efficiency.”
News of the new infrastructure hubs follows Greenwood’s announcement of an extension of the plug-in van grant and a £120 million funding package aimed at accelerating the transition to zero-emission transport.
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