The Zero Emission National (ZEN) Freight consortium, part of the UK government’s ZEHID (Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator) Programme, is “advancing at pace” following a reset, with plans to trial 62 battery-electric and 16 hydrogen-powered trucks across Britain’s leading logistics firms by 2026.
Following a project reset, the ZEN Freight consortium, part of the UK government’s Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID) Programme, is now advancing.
ZEN Freight is pressing ahead with its core vision of conducting parallel demonstrations with both battery-electric (BEV) and hydrogen fuel cell (H2) trucks, with commercial fleet optimisation software specialist Dynamon now officially at the helm following bp’s withdrawal as consortium lead earlier this year.
“ZEN Freight is once again moving ahead at pace; we have a strong vision, a clear purpose and a defined pathway forward to achieve our overarching goals,” said Dr Angus Webb, Dynamon Founder and CEO. “Our consortium members have fully embraced this reset, demonstrating unwavering commitment to driving meaningful change.”
The consortium includes fleet operators DFDS, Eddie Stobart, Great Bear Distribution, Gregory Distribution, Maritime Transport and Wren Kitchens, along with academic partner Imperial College London, and truck manufacturers DAF Trucks, Daimler Trucks, Scania, and Volvo Trucks.
The ZENFreight project has been rescoped based on the introduction of 78 vehicles into operator fleets, comprising 62 BEV and 16 H2 trucks. Each fleet will take both BEV and at least two H2 trucks, which will be benchmarked against diesel equivalents.
The consortium will also develop a nationwide network of depot-based electric charging and hydrogen refueling stations, spanning 25 depots across its member companies.
The project, which has £63 million in funding, including £43 million from the government, remains on track to have all vehicles on the road by March 2026, with a five-year demonstration phase to follow.
“We are proud to be working with the Department for Transport to deliver this important programme,” said Dr Isabella Panovic, Programme Manager for Zero Emission Freight at Innovate UK. “Through clever use of simulation to optimise deployments, this project will help to create the evidence base to decarbonise the UK’s heaviest road freight vehicles.”
The consortium will use Dynamon’s advanced data and planning software, ZERO, to stress-test the routes taken by the zero emission vehicles and identify opportunities for decarbonising specific vehicles and routes.
