- Truck makers call for pragmatic technology-open pathway to
HGV decarbonisation as ZEV adoption contracts to just 0.9% of
market.
- More than 40 ZEV models on sale but uptake hampered by steep
upfront investment costs, limited infrastructure and high energy
prices.
- Lower emission vehicles vital to cut CO2 and reach
Net Zero by 2040, but industry warns highly complex HGV sector
needs new approach to regulation to keep costs down and ambition
on track.
- Industry makes call at Commercial Vehicle Show, the UK's
largest event for road freight transport.
The government is being urged to ensure Britain's heavy goods
vehicle (HGV) operators have access to every available technology
to cut carbon emissions. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and
Traders (SMMT) made the call at today's Commercial Vehicle Show,
where major OEMs and fleet operators are gathered to display the
very latest array of technologies and discuss the future of UK
road freight and decarbonisation.
As government prepares new regulation to deliver a zero emission
truck market, the latest data from SMMT reveals a sharp drop in
zero emission vehicle (ZEV) adoption – falling to just 0.9% of
new HGV registrations this year, down from 1.4% in
2025.1 The decline reflects the nascent nature of the
HGV transition, which must accelerate rapidly to meet the UK's
ambition for a fully ZEV market by 2040.
Manufacturers already offer more than 40 ZEV models, years ahead
of natural demand, covering a complex range of more than 70
different segments – from goods lorries and bulk tankers to
concrete mixers, diggers, refuse trucks, tractors and ambulances.
All must be decarbonised, compared with a more homogenous new car
market.
The HGV sector underpins more than 80% of UK freight,2
moving essential goods and services such as food and drink,
retail, medicine, construction, agriculture and emergency
services. However, the transition faces significant barriers,
including the higher upfront cost of ZEVs and depot
infrastructure upgrades, and the impact of rising energy prices
on running costs. Infrastructure rollout is also a key challenge,
with grid connection waits of potentially up to 15 years for the
largest projects3 and just 10 public ZEV HGV charging
stations nationwide.
With these barriers demanding substantial long-term investment,
mandating ZEV-only sales prematurely would risk destablising the
market, driving up costs, slowing low carbon fleet renewal, and
repeating the challenges faced by the car and van sectors.
Instead, the UK should build on existing HGV CO2
regulation – already on track to deliver a -30% emissions
reduction by 2030 – by adopting a -64% target by 2035, and
setting the pathway to full ZEV adoption by 2040.
This balanced approach – supported by long-term market
enablers – would allow operators to deploy a range of
technologies, supporting fleet renewal and faster emissions cuts,
while safeguarding business viability and reducing the impact of
these investment requirements on cost of living. Limiting
the sector to only zero emission vehicles (ZEVs), meanwhile,
would drive up costs for businesses and consumers.
Even so, a fully ZEV market by 2040 remains an ambitious goal.
Substantial market enablers such as the Plug-in Truck Grant and
Depot Charging Scheme will be vital throughout the transition and
should be expanded to support every HGV segment and use case. The
industry also continues to call for a comprehensive national
infrastructure strategy, including fast-tracked planning approval
for HGV depot upgrades and accelerated rollout of public
infrastructure. These measures are essential to ensure operators
can transition to zero emissions while keeping the UK economy
moving.
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, “The HGV
industry is fully committed to decarbonisation, having already
delivered zero emission models years ahead of natural demand. But
while the goal of net zero by 2050 remains, we need a pathway
that is realistic, affordable and delivers
CO2 savings now. Government regulation must
recognise the complexities of this critical market, which are far
greater than the car or van sectors, and with so much of our
economy dependent on freight, the priority must be to cut carbon
in ways that accelerate fleet renewal without driving up costs.”
More than 15,000 fleet buyers, transport experts and industry
leaders are gathering this week at the Commercial Vehicle
Show (21-23 April) at the NEC Birmingham. The event
will feature cutting-edge heavy and light commercial vehicle and
services innovations to help businesses boost operational
efficiency, lower emissions and reduce costs.
Notes to editors
1 SMMT new HGV registration data for Q1 2026 and full-year 2025.
2 Department for Transport, Transport Statistics Great
Britain: 2024 Freight.
3 Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, April 2025.
