One of the biggest obstacles to decarbonising road freight is the lack of clarity around where and when electric heavy goods vehicles will need to draw power from the grid. A new initiative led by UK Power Networks is aiming to change that.
The Future Fleet project brings together logistics operators Maritime and Voltloader, charging specialist Voltempo, Energy Systems Catapult and Baringa to develop detailed models of how freight moves across the country. By mapping real-world delivery routes and transport patterns, the partnership will create what it calls ‘archetypes’ – profiles that reveal where clusters of charging demand are likely to emerge as more eHGVs enter service.
These insights will help network planners prepare for future pressure points, using advanced geospatial modelling to match projected charging needs with existing capacity. The goal is to speed up connections for fleet operators while avoiding unnecessary grid reinforcement.
The project is also examining a range of smart energy techniques to keep costs down. Options under review include flexible charging schedules, on-site renewables and battery storage, as well as emerging vehicle-to-everything technology. The aim is to identify which combinations work best for different types of operators, from small fleets to national logistics firms.
An initial six-month phase will set out the requirements for a potential live trial, with the hope of producing scalable solutions that work for the entire sector.
David Francis, head of investment management and innovation at UK Power Networks, said: ‘Supporting the shift to electric HGVs means understanding not just how fleets operate, but how networks adapt to support their charging infrastructure.
‘Future Fleet gives us the clarity we need to accurately forecast where charging demand will grow and how we can facilitate faster, efficient connections to the network. By working closely with industry partners, we’re developing the insight and tools to manage high-capacity charging in a smarter, more flexible way.’
Tom Williams, deputy chief executive officer at Maritime Transport, said: ‘We’re very pleased to be collaborating with UK Power Networks and our Future Fleet partners on a project addressing one of the biggest challenges in decarbonising road freight: understanding where and when eHGV charging will be needed, and what that will mean for operators and the electricity grid.
‘With more than 20 eHGVs successfully deployed so far this year, and over 50 due to be introduced nationally in 2026 alongside high-powered charging across a number of our locations, Maritime is already seeing at first hand the relationship between fleet operations, site requirements, and power demand. We welcome the opportunity to contribute that operational experience to a project that will help build a much clearer picture of where charging demand is likely to emerge and how infrastructure can be planned more effectively as electrification gathers pace.’
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