DFDS has rolled out its first Volvo FM Electric heavy goods vehicle (eHGV) in the UK, marking a key step in the country’s transition to zero-emission freight. The vehicle is now operating from DFDS’s Sandhills Business Park depot in Liverpool under the ZENFreight consortium, a flagship project within the UK Government’s Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID) Programme.

Running on a closed-loop route between a major FMCG fulfilment centre in Merseyside and Liverpool Port, the eHGV supports a vital logistics corridor for goods bound for Ireland. The site’s newly commissioned charging hub, developed with Envevo, includes four 360kWh bays capable of fully recharging the vehicle in just two hours, allowing up to four delivery cycles per day.

DFDS, already a leader in sustainable logistics across Europe, operates 145 electric trucks across seven countries, collectively avoiding more than 4,200 tonnes of CO₂e emissions in 2024. The company now plans to scale its UK electric fleet, focusing on collaboration with partners in the Food, FMCG and Automotive sectors.

“Our first UK eHGV deployment is a milestone in our decarbonisation journey,” said Allan Bell, Vice President Logistics UK & Ireland at DFDS. “To achieve wider adoption, we must continue to strengthen infrastructure and drive joint investment across industries.”

ZENFreight, led by fleet optimisation specialist Dynamon and backed by the Department for Transport and Innovate UK, brings together major logistics operators and truck manufacturers to test both hydrogen and battery-electric solutions. DFDS’s launch represents the first live proof of the programme’s potential.

Discover how DFDS and ZENFreight are powering the future of green freight in the full article.