Decarbonising the UK’s long-haul road freight at minimum economic cost

This White Paper presents an opportunity to align two goals: electrifying the UK's major roads to quickly and cost-effectively decarbonise HGVs. An ‘Electric Road System’ (ERS) is the primary candidate to deliver the energy needed by the UK’s long-distance HGV fleet. ERS deploys roadside infrastructure that allows the most efficient direct use of zero-carbon electricity and hence the lowest societal cost. This approach is scalable and quick to deploy, using known and available technologies, existing delivery bodies such as National Grid, Highways England and the UK’s construction industry and infrastructure supply chains: creating significant employment. Truck manufacturers including Scania have indicated they can deliver the modified vehicles and have delivered numerous prototypes for demonstration trials around Europe. This White Paper sets out the case for a nationwide rollout of ERS through the 2030s. A total investment in the region of £19.3 billion would be required to electrify almost all the UK’s long-haul freight vehicles, corresponding to 65% of road freight movements. The estimated CO2 saving would be 13.4 MtCO2e per annum, along with substantial air quality benefits. The remaining 35% of freight movements are mainly urban deliveries that are expected to move to battery electric lorries over the next 10 years. The investment compares well with the size of other planned infrastructure projects. Work could get underway immediately with an £80 million pilot project in the North East of England.

• Record URL:
  http://www.csrf.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/SRF-WP-UKEMS-v2.pdf
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  The Centre for Sustainable Road Transport

  Cambridge,    
• Authors:
  • Ainalis, D T
  • Thorne, C
  • Cebon, D
• Publication Date: 2020-7

Media Info

• Pagination: 27p
• Serial:
  • Issue Number: CUED/C-SRF/TR17

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air quality management; Costs; Electric vehicle charging; Electric vehicles; Freight transportation; Heavy vehicles; Investments; Roadside
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• ATRI Terms: Cost; Electric vehicle; Emissions control; Freight transport; Heavy vehicle; Investment; Roadside; Vehicle recharging
• Subject Areas: Energy; Finance; Freight Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01751222
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB Group Limited
• Files: ATRI
• Created Date: Sep 1 2020 2:50PM