Adopting zero emission heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) has the potential to significantly reduce your fleet's emissions

Zero emission HDVs are still at an early stage of development. As with lighter vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and alternatively fuelled vehicles act as bridges for fleets transitioning from internal combustion engine (ICE) HDVs to zero emission vehicles (ZEVs). There are various zero emission HDV options currently in development by manufacturers.

A big drawback of battery electric HDVs is the battery size they need due to the vehicle’s weight. The larger the battery size, the more room it takes up in storage space, and an increased requirement for high powered charging infrastructure. It also increases the vehicle’s weight. 

Catenary charging, charging vehicles during a journey via overhead cables, is being investigated as an alternative solution on a national scale (see the report by Catapult, 2021). However, this is still a few years away from being a suitable solution. For now, we recommend focusing on planning the procurement of battery or fuel cell electric vehicles.   

Our recommendations

Fleet managers should see whether any of their current models can be replaced with ZEVs based on existing technology. Some zero emission HDVs already in operation include battery-electric small lorries and buses. Many of these are currently being manufactured and introduced to fleets across the UK. Larger lorries are being trialled globally. 

Vehicles that complete short and predictable journeys are more suitable to replace with BEVs. This is because the battery weight limits range. These vehicles are also more likely to travel in urban areas, so quieter and less polluting vehicles will be better for the environment. This area of zero emission HDVs is growing fast, so it’s worth seeing if you could introduce them to your fleet. Otherwise, there are lots of trials currently underway that you could get involved in. 

Zero emission HDVs can have lower running costs than ICE equivalents due to the reduced service, maintenance and repair and fuel costs. This means zero emission HDVs can have short payback periods. One study found an equal total cost of ownership to an ICE equivalent after just five years (Earl, et al., 2018). 

The Scottish Government has set a target that public sector fleets will not take on any new ICE vehicles from 2030. This includes HDVs. If you’re a public sector organisation, you need to consider this when procuring vehicles. We recommend you start planning the long-term transition to a zero emission HDV fleet now. This will help you to avoid running highly polluting vehicles for longer than necessary.   

Pricing

The costs of zero emission HDVs are currently high. This is due to the current low demand and the cost of their large batteries. However, you should consider the total cost of ownership when buying these vehicles. 

HDVs have a longer life cycle compared to other vehicles. Operators will have lower running costs thanks to electricity generally being cheaper than diesel, along with cheaper service, maintenance, and repair costs.  

These vehicles should also be able to operate for at least 10 years, or longer if the batteries are replaced if they wear out. This means zero emission HDVs often have a lower total cost of ownership over their whole life compared to their diesel equivalents.  

HDV pricing varies significantly. This is largely because of how much variety there is within specific models, as the chassis and body are bought separately. There is currently some uncertainty around how the zero emission HDVs market will look due to the unpredictable costs of this new technology and the limited number of models currently available. Pricing for these vehicles will become clearer after the first customer trials have finished.   

The table below shows some approximate BEV HDV prices drawn from our analysis of the market, based on dialogue and indicative quotes from manufacturers. We have not yet been able to get robust prices for fuel cell HDVs, so these are not included. You can use these indicative prices can as a starting point for financial planning as actual prices may be different.