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Hitachi

Electric Freightway

We’re the principal partner in GRIDSERVE’s Electric Freightway project, delivering one of the biggest and most advanced eHGV charging networks in the world.

Decarbonising the heavy goods sector

Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) contribute around 20% of the UK’s transport greenhouse gas emissions and decarbonisation of this sector is essential for the UK to meet its 2050 net zero targets.

Larger eHGVs are only just coming to market. They currently cost significantly more to purchase than equivalent diesel trucks and there is very limited eHGV charging infrastructure in the UK, with existing car chargers not designed to meet the needs of HGV operators.

Despite this, the transition needs to start now, as vehicle operators will no longer be able to buy new diesel HGVs after 2040.

Introducing the Electric Freightway project

GRIDSERVE's Electric Freightway project intends to help kick start the transition process by implementing eHGV charging infrastructure across the UK and providing HGV operators with the information they need to plan the successful adoption of fully electric vehicles.

The project is funded as part of the Department for Transport and Innovate UK-backed Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator programme.

Our role in the project

Working with lead partner, GRIDSERVE, we will collate, analyse and report on data throughout the project, leveraging experience from our role in the world's largest commercial electric fleet trial, Optimise Prime.

This will involve analysing routes, vehicle and charging session data including the optimisation of battery health, range and charging infrastructure monitoring, and evidence-based Total Cost of Ownership modelling to support investment business cases for future eHGV deployments.

This unique opportunity will test some of the most challenging electrification scenarios in the UK. Through this we will gain the data and practical experience needed to allow HGV operators to plan and prioritise their decarbonisation journey, highlighting where we need to continue to innovate to overcome remaining challenges in implementing zero emissions trucks.

Andrew Barr, President of Hitachi Europe and Chairman of Hitachi ZeroCarbon

Report 1: Project introduction and approach

We have has published the first report for the Electric Freightway programme. This first report outlines project commitments and delivery timelines, including a development roadmap and details how Electric Freightway will keep the haulage industry informed of any key insights.

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Report 2: Demonstration design and implementation

Report 2 provides an overview of the work the project has done so far in planning and implementing eHGV infrastructure, highlighting the progress made in bringing eHGVs onto the road in the UK, exploring the views of drivers and operational teams towards electrification and providing an insight into some of the challenges that vehicle and charge point operators currently face in transitioning HGV to electric.

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Share your views on eHGV adoption

The project is looking to understand attitudes towards eHGV adoption across the wider industry, including all sectors that are involved in this zero-carbon transition. If you’d like to share your views, we would like to hear from you.

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