The UK government has just delivered exciting news for British businesses and the transition to greener freight – the kind of news the transport and logistics sectors have been waiting for. This morning ministers confirmed plans to cut the cost of new electric lorries by up to £120,000, thanks to an additional £18 million investment in the Plug-in Truck Grant.
This has huge implications that we at Voltempo strongly welcome, corroborating the view of not just ourselves but others throughout the industry that electrification not only drives economic resilience, but also supports environmentally responsible innovation. This announcement does both – making it easier for British businesses to adopt cleaner technology and helping the UK stay on track for a zero-emission future.
“We’re backing British businesses to go green by making electric lorries more affordable, helping hauliers to make the switch whilst turbocharging growth, investment and jobs in the sector.” Explained Minister for Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation, Keir Mather on the GOV.uk website. “Our proposals will provide the certainty the industry has been calling for so that Britain becomes the best place for green investment.”
You can download the new HGV CO2 emissions regulatory framework from GOV.uk.
The government went on to cite companies such as eFREIGHT 2030 member Marks and Spencer and the Zero Emission HGV & Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID) program as a whole as great examples of pushing environmentally friendly vehicles.
Voltempo’s view:
Voltempo, which plays a leading role in both the eFREIGHT 2030 consortium and ZEHID, as well as being the force behind devoted Scottish project SCALE. Had this to say:
Founder Michael Boxwell, speaking with eFREIGHT 2030 said: “The Department for Transport’s ongoing commitment to net zero freight is hugely welcome and this new announcement can benefit fleet operators and their customers as they move towards zero-emission road freight. eFREIGHT 2030 is already delivering on these ambitions with new charging hubs and fleet deployments across the UK.”
Our CEO Simon Smith added on LinkedIn: “Today’s announcement from the Government being another clear sign of the confidence that’s building in the industry, and yet further recognition for the economic opportunity presented by decarbonising freight. For hauliers, one of the biggest barriers to switching to electric is cost, so the decision to add £18 million to the Plug‑in Truck Grant, effectively cutting the upfront cost of an electric HGV by up to £120,000, is a very welcome step.
But purchase price alone is only one part of the equation. The real challenge is ownership cost and ensuring long term commercial viability – which is where Voltempo is proud to be leading the way.
While Government support is important, the real transformation will come from government and industry working together. Because if the transition is done right, it won’t just reduce emissions, it will lower total cost of ownership and increase productivity – especially as we move towards autonomous logistics – unlocking entirely new commercial opportunities for fleet operators.”
Moving forward:
Make sure you get in contact with Voltempo today to see how our end-to-end service can provide comprehensive support for commercial fleet electrification. Handling everything from site development and grid connection to installing their powerful HyperCharger technology, and offering ongoing maintenance, data analytics, and optimization to ensure high uptime and ROI.
Contact us at hello@voltempo.com or on 0121 771 001 for more information.
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