IN Brief:
- The UK has opened a £1 billion package for zero-emission vans, trucks, and depot charging.
- Operators can claim up to £81,000 on the heaviest electric trucks and up to £1 million for charging infrastructure.
- The new funding window sharpens the focus on depot readiness as a constraint on fleet replacement.
The Department for Transport has launched a £1 billion support package for zero-emission vans, trucks, and depot charging, opening a new funding window aimed at reducing the upfront cost of fleet electrification for commercial operators. The measures cover vehicle grants as well as charging infrastructure support for depots and public-sector fleets.
Under the package, businesses can save up to £81,000 on the heaviest zero-emission trucks, covering as much as 40% of purchase cost, while the electric van grant continues at up to £5,000 per vehicle. Businesses and public authorities installing charging at depots can receive up to £1 million for vans, coaches, and HGVs.
The package is built around the Zero Emissions Truck and Van grants and the new Depot Charging Scheme. The first application window for depot charging opened on 25 March and runs to 30 June 2026, or until funding is exhausted, with support set at 70% of chargepoint and civil works costs.
The announcement lands as operators continue to weigh vehicle economics against site readiness. For return-to-base fleets in parcel, grocery, service, and contract logistics networks, charging infrastructure has become a decisive constraint alongside vehicle availability, grid connection timing, and replacement cycles, particularly where depots must accommodate heavier vehicles with higher energy demand.
