Electric Freightway drives more than a quarter of UK eHGV registrations

GRIDSERVE’s Electric Freightway programme plays pivotal role in promoting transition to electric trucks

The UK’s transition to zero-emission freight has reached a major milestone, with the 1,000th electric Heavy Goods Vehicle (eHGV) registered in 2025.

New figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that electric HGV registrations surged by 171% year-on-year. While zero emission trucks still account for 1.4% of the overall HGV market – 587 vehicles out of 40,504 total registrations – the rate of growth signals accelerating momentum across the sector.

Of those 587 zero emission HGVs registered in 2025, 161 were delivered through the GRIDSERVE Electric Freightway, a programme funded by Department for Transport and delivered in partnership with Innovate UK. This means that more than a quarter of all new electric trucks on UK roads this year have been supported by the programme.

The Electric Freightway has been designed to tackle two of the biggest barriers facing fleet operators: access to vehicles and access to reliable, high-power charging infrastructure. By delivering both in parallel, the programme enables operators of all sizes to move beyond small-scale trials and into meaningful, real-world deployment.

The growth in registrations comes as operators have benefited from increased vehicle choice, with 21 zero-emission truck models now available, including models provided by consortium members DAF Trucks, Volvo Trucks, Renault Trucks and Daimler Trucks.

Meanwhile, GRIDSERVE has expand ed its dedicated eHGV charging infrastructure across key depot hubs and the strategic road network. In January, the first dedicated and publicly accessible eHGV charging hubs opened at Extra Baldock Services on the A1(M) and Moto Exeter Services on the M5, with further locations planned through 2026.

Sam Clarke, head of the eHGV programme for GRIDSERVE, said: “Infrastructure remains one of the most significant challenges facing the heavy goods sector. Electric Freightway’s integrated approach is helping to de-risk the transition by ensuring charging availability keeps pace with vehicle rollout. It’s still early days and there is much more to do, but with strong year-on-year growth and expanding infrastructure, we’re clearly seeing the advantages of such collaboration between industry and UK Government. Electric Freightway is helping lay the foundations for the next phase of the UK’s electric freight revolution.”

Truck makers have also stepped up, with a growing range of electric models on offer, including the DAF XF Electric, voted International Truck of the Year 2026. The DAF XF Electric is available with modular battery packs ranging from 315- to 525kWh, with 4×2 tractor, 6×2 tractor and rigid versions offering zero-emission ranges of over 300 miles on a single charge. The XF Electric also boasts 325kW-capable DC charging and an eight-year battery warranty, demonstrating full confidence in the long-term viability and reliability of the technology.

Louis Jones, EV and connected services director at DAF Trucks, said: “We’re not just trialling electric; we’re proving it works and can even demonstrate a better Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) than diesel. Like the GRIDSERVE Electric Freightway, our nationwide network of UK dealers is also increasingly EV-ready, with more than 200 IMI Level 3 electric vehicle technicians in training, 180kW charging facilities being installed at our sales locations and a nationwide DAFaid coverage.”