Rolling out electric vans and trucks has just become a lot more affordable thanks to a £1 billion funding package from the Government.
Thanks to the Zero Emissions Truck and Van grants and the Depot Charging Scheme (DCS), companies can overcome two of the biggest barriers to businesses making the switch – upfront costs and access to charging.
The exciting announcement comes at a time of global fuel price uncertainty, and will make it far easier for companies looking to save cash, clean up their journey miles and continue their path to net zero.
Voltempo strongly welcomes both of these initiatives, with CEO Simon Smith saying: “Today’s announcement from the Department for Transport is welcome news and exactly what the UK’s road freight sector needs. This significant extension and strengthening of the Plug-in Truck Grant and Depot Charging Scheme sends a clear signal that the transition to zero-emission HGVs is now moving into a significant delivery phase.
“This is where government backing and private sector investment must work hand in hand. The direction of travel is clear, and the focus now is on making electrification work at scale, in real-world operations and that will not be solved by incentives alone.
“For operators, the test is straightforward. Can electric trucks run reliably, at the right cost, within existing logistics models? If they can, adoption will accelerate quickly.
“At Voltempo, we see infrastructure as the deciding factor, delivering depot-based charging as part of a fully integrated solution that enables fleets to operate with certainty. Scaling eHGVs at pace depends on more than hardware alone; grid access, energy pricing, site readiness and long-term scalability are fundamental constraints that must be solved in parallel and will ultimately determine how quickly the sector can move.
“This is a crucial moment. The priority must now be execution; aligning infrastructure, energy and operations so that fleets can transition with confidence and at scale.”
What this means for Voltempo customers and the sector as a whole
The truck grant will offer savings of up to £81,000 off the heaviest zero emissions trucks, covering up to 40% of the cost. The van grant will continue to offer discounts of up to £5,000 off the cost of electric vans.
On top of that, businesses and public authorities could save up to £1 million, covering up to 70% of the cost, when installing charging infrastructure for vans, coaches, and eHGVs, thanks to a £170 million boost to the government’s Depot Charging Scheme.