The UK’s haulage sector has seen its fair share of news over the last few months and we’re back to tell you about the launch of the UK’s first hydrogen-electric truck. This new type of vehicle is the first hydrogen fuel, cell-supported Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) to be designed and manufactured right here in the United Kingdom.

This new 7.5-tonne HGV is the brainchild of Tevva, a scale-up business based in Tilbury, in the South East of England. It was unveiled in June of 2022 at the Warwickshire Road Transport Expo and it is said to have a range of up to 310 miles on a full charge. It’s also said to be a true zero-emissions design that will work for both urban and extra-urban companies.

The Same Refuelling Time As a Diesel HGV

In addition to offering an impressive range, hydrogen comes with the extra advantage of taking around the same time to refuel as a diesel lorry (5 to 20 minutes). Tevva has stated that the design is one that can futureproof customers, as the industry moves away from the use of fossil fuels. This will help to successfully phase out fossil fuel-powered trucks by 2040.

The Essex-based innovator also claims that its proprietary software allows the battery and hydrogen cells to operate at optimum efficiency at all times. This optimises cost-effectiveness – an aspect that cannot currently be said about diesel due to record high prices. Other benefits also include resilience, fuelling convenience and ‘carbon effectiveness’.

Vital In the Decarbonisation of UK Transport

Speaking recently, Tevva founder and CEO Asher Bennett had this to say about the exciting new launch for his company:

“We are excited to launch our hydrogen-electric HGV, creating a landmark moment for Tevva and UK manufacturing. We firmly believe that the post-fossil fuel future, which is quickly approaching, will see a range of technologies and fuels take centre stage in the transport industry.

By embracing hydrogen, we are futureproofing ourselves, our clients and the industries and communities they operate in.”

The government was equally effusive about the technology, with Transport Minister Trudy Harrison having this to say:

“Hydrogen fuel cells and other zero emission technology will be vital in helping us decarbonise transport. A thriving UK hydrogen industry could not only help us meet our climate change obligations, but also support thousands of jobs across the country in years to come”.

A Greener Future Lies Ahead For UK Haulage

Decarbonisation of transport is something that has been spoken about for some time, but now it seems, the reality of non-fossil fuel-powered trucks is here. It’s something that we welcome and we look forward to seeing the technology – and others like it- rolling out over the coming years, creating a greener, healthier future for us all.

In the meantime, the HGVC team will continue to provide industry-leading HGV licence acquisition programs via our national network of training centres. If you’d like to know more about what we’re doing to help address the chronic HGV driver shortage, please take the time to browse our website where you’ll find everything you need.

Alternatively, to get in touch directly, either click ‘contact us’ or call 0330 818 8888, and a member of our team will be more than happy to discuss your needs.