The road to delivering electric HGVs

Logistics UK calls on government to support transition

If the logistics sector is to decarbonise effectively, in line with the government’s 2050 net zero deadline, more support will be needed to enable operators to do so, according to a report by business group Logistics UK. The organisation’s Electric Vehicle Report 2023 argues that factors including a lack of fiscal support and an inadequate public charging network are having a significant impact on the confidence of operators to invest in electric vehicles (EVs).

In 2022, EVs represented 0.9% of the UK’s van fleet, up from 0.3% in 2019. While the majority of the businesses surveyed for the report – 62% – plan to have decarbonised their van fleets by 2030, significant barriers remain that prevent the uptake needed ahead of the deadlines.

David Wells, chief executive of Logistics UK, said: “The logistics sector is fully aware of its responsibilities to decarbonise and is keen to do so. However, with respondents reporting wide ranging costs to upgrade their energy supplies to depots – between £100,000 and over £1m – a lack of meaningful scrappage schemes, acquisition costs on the rise and volatile energy prices, it is an uphill battle that cannot continue without increased support from government.

“Our industry operates on very narrow margins of around 1% and with significant inflationary pressures, increased wage bills and the rise in total road vehicle operating costs, logistics businesses need supportive fiscal measures to be able to upgrade their fleets and energy supplies without having to pass on increased costs to customers.”

With all respondents citing energy supply as their top priority, the business group is also calling for a fair and equitable approach to funding depot electricity connection. “Significant frustration was expressed by our members who regularly use current public chargepoints, with respondents reporting difficulties in finding available EV chargepoint spaces and many encountering broken or inoperable chargers,” Wells told attendees at the Logistics UK conference in May.

“With further issues surrounding the suitability of existing charging facilities for commercial vehicles, Logistics UK is calling for an EV charging and refuelling infrastructure roadmap to be prioritised.

“The UK needs an injection of serious infrastructure to meet its net zero goals, and it is farsighted public sector organisations who are taking the lead. Placing rapid and ultra-rapid charging points directly onto London’s high-volume arterial roads will make it easier for drivers to choose electric and improve the air quality for local communities.”

London has 103,000 plug-in electric cars and vans already registered in the capital. With close to 13,000 chargepoints, London currently has 31% of all EV charging infrastructure across the UK, more than any other UK region.

As of February 2023, London has the most public rapid chargepoints of any European city. Around 880 are rapid or ultrarapid charging points that deliver a full charge within 30 minutes – including 300 units delivered by TfL.

As part of its Electric Vehicle Infrastructure strategy, TfL’s modelling predicts that if current demand continues, the city will need at least 1,600 rapid chargepoints by 2025 and up to 3,900 by 2030.

This must be designed in collaboration with operators, backed with clear guidance and incentives for local authorities. A significantly accelerated roll out of public charging infrastructure that is fully accessible to commercial vehicles, with clear milestones for minimum levels of suitable chargepoint provision across the country, must be an urgent priority for government if our industry is to meet its net zero priorities by 2050.”

The cost and availability of new electric vehicles is also a concern for the logistics sector, with long order deadlines and no viable scrappage schemes putting heavy cost burdens on businesses, particularly SMEs. Wells concluded: “The lifecycle of a vehicle is carefully worked into any logistics business’ budget, to ensure continuity while keeping costs down. Our members should not be expected simply to write off the cost of any vehicles they operate –which could run to thousands of pounds for every operator: a supportive scrappage scheme should be in place to ensure that logistics businesses can stay on the roads without incurring further, punitive costs.”