Blog; Electric Trucks Are Coming, But is the UK Ready For Them?

Electric trucks (also known as eHGVs) aren’t just a futuristic idea anymore. They’re quietly reshaping the next generation of transport and over 1,000 eHGVs have been registered in the UK. That’s a 171% rise year-on-year, but it’s still only 1.4% of all new HGV registrations.

Although we can see that demand is growing, for operators there’s one question that’s springing to mind. Is the UK actually ready to support eHGVs on a larger scale, and what does that mean for your fleet?

One of the biggest supporters of electric trucks is the Government as it works to achieve net zero by 2050.

In order to help drivers and businesses make the move with more certainty, the plug-in van and truck grant has been extended to at least 2027. With this grant, buyers can get discounts of up to £16,000 for smaller trucks and £25,000 for larger models.

There are also several other incentives available to make purchasing and charging more accessible. For example:

If you’re an operator balancing tight margins, this kind of support is a major bonus and can make a meaningful difference when you start exploring your options with electric.

While funding is making a big difference in encouraging adoption, charging infrastructure is still one of the biggest hurdles facing eHGVs.

There’s no denying that the public EV charging network is growing at a promising rate. In fact, there’s now more than 121,000 across the UK. However, the majority of these chargers are designed for cars and vans rather than HGVs, which limits their usefulness for fleet operators.

Projects like Electric Freightway aim to improve this. This £100 million investment will run until 2030 and looks to install roughly 200 chargers for eHGVs, designed to operate using net zero carbon energy.

In the meantime, many fleets have to rely on a mix of depot charging and adapted public sites to keep their vehicles moving.

If we’re answering honestly, the UK isn’t quite there yet to accommodate widespread electric HGV adoption. However, we’re seeing lots of good progress being made, and quickly too. Investment is rising, technology is constantly improving and the industry is working today to sort out the gaps in infrastructure.

Electric trucks are already a practical option for some fleets, especially those with urban deliveries or operating from central depots. The trouble lies with the long-distance hauliers, or fleets with more complex logistics, but we expect to see a lot of improvements in this field over the coming years.

For your business, this creates an opportunity to plan ahead. Those who start exploring their options for eHGVs now are able to get ahead of the curve, adapt at a more gradual pace that suits your operation and take advantage of the support that’s currently available.

Not sure if eHGVs are quite right for your operation yet? Ask the team at HAE Insurance Services and EHA Insurance Services by calling 0330 018 2299 or sending an email to insuranceservices@hae.org.uk.

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