The study, Powering Change: building a credible plan for decarbonising road logistics, draws on detailed surveys, member insights and industry modelling. It highlights a widening gap between government timelines and operators’ readiness, particularly among small and medium-sized fleets that make up the bulk of the UK haulage market.
Most operators believe phase-out deadlines will be missed
The report finds that confidence in meeting the UK’s diesel phase-out deadlines is strikingly low. Around 80% of operators do not believe the targets for vans and HGVs can be achieved, pointing to persistent gaps in infrastructure, funding and guidance. More than 85% express little confidence in the availability of suitable public charging, and over 80% say they are unable to install the high-capacity chargers required at their depots. A further share — roughly 60% — believe the support available to help them navigate the transition is inadequate.
Overall readiness remains limited across several critical areas, including depot electrification, access to specialist technical advice and the financial ability to invest in new technologies.
SMEs and grid connections least prepared for the transition
The research shows that smaller operators face the steepest obstacles. SMEs report significantly lower readiness and confidence when it comes to planning and financing depot charging, securing grid capacity, adopting battery-electric HGVs and understanding the policy and technical requirements. This raises concerns that progress will be uneven across the sector, with many smaller fleets at risk of falling behind as the transition accelerates.
Logistics UK points to ongoing problems with grid access as one of the most serious barriers. Many operators face multi-year waits for upgraded connections, along with uncertainty around timings and costs. The report notes that the current system is preventing logistics hubs and depots from expanding or installing the infrastructure needed for fleet charging, despite growing industry interest in battery-electric vehicles.
Transition costs remain prohibitive for many operators
While uptake has begun among early adopters, the financial case remains challenging for the majority of fleets. The report indicates that battery-electric HGVs continue to carry a significantly higher total cost of ownership than diesel for many duty cycles, driven by vehicle prices, infrastructure upgrades and operational constraints. For an industry operating on tight margins, Logistics UK warns that the economics must improve if the transition is to proceed at the required pace.
The study predicts that diesel’s share of road freight energy use will fall sharply over the next decade as low-carbon fuels become more widespread and the first wave of battery-electric vehicles enters the market. However, it also indicates that operators expect a mixed-technology transition, with alternative fuels playing a major role through the 2030s. Full electrification of long-haul operations is not anticipated to dominate until later, unless infrastructure and support accelerate.
Public charging infrastructure for heavy-duty vehicles remains at a very early stage of development, with sparse coverage across key freight routes and logistics hubs. The report notes that current deployment is far below what will be required to meet the government’s 2035–2040 timelines, and that early adopters continue to struggle with reliability, availability and compatibility concerns.
Call for a national, co-owned decarbonisation roadmap
Logistics UK is calling for the government to work with industry on a single, coordinated roadmap covering vehicles, infrastructure, planning, finance and grid readiness. Key policy recommendations include:
- prioritising grid connections for logistics hubs and ports
- extending and expanding the ZEHID programme
- providing targeted, long-term financial support for operators
- issuing clear national guidance on the grid connection process
- scaling up the use of low-carbon fuels during the transition
“The urgent need to reduce emissions is not in question,” said Lamech Solomon, Head of Decarbonisation Policy at Logistics UK. “Yet there is no avoiding the reality that operators consider the current technology and policy landscape confusing and fragmented.”
