In a landmark achievement for sustainable transport, the first electric heavy goods vehicle has successfully completed a journey between the United Kingdom and France using the Channel Tunnel. This historic crossing represents a significant milestone for zero-emission freight operations across Europe, proving that battery-electric trucks can now operate on one of the continent's busiest and most critical trade corridors.
A Pioneering Journey for Electric Freight
The groundbreaking journey was accomplished using LeShuttle Freight services through the Channel Tunnel, marking the first time an electric HGV has travelled through this vital underwater link. The successful trial demonstrates that fully-electric freight operations are technically viable for international routes that include the Channel crossing, moving beyond previous limitations to domestic or regional deliveries.
Collaborative Effort Drives Innovation
The historic crossing was carried out by logistics giant Kuehne+Nagel in partnership with LeShuttle Freight, charging specialist Voltempo, and truck manufacturer DAF. This collaborative effort forms part of the eFreight 2030 project, which operates within the UK government's Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator programme. Funded by the Department for Transport and delivered with Innovate UK, this initiative aims to accelerate the transition to sustainable freight transport.
Simon Smith, CEO of Voltempo, emphasised the significance of this achievement: "This is what eFREIGHT 2030 was designed to enable, proving that electric HGVs can operate reliably in real-world conditions, including challenging cross-border routes. Government support through ZEHID has helped kick-start the eHGV market; now industry must make electrification commercially viable at scale."
Technical Details of the Historic Journey
The round trip covered approximately 1,056 miles across five countries using a DAF New Generation XF Electric truck. The vehicle began its journey at Kuehne+Nagel's East Midlands Gateway depot, where it was loaded with 12 tonnes of freight before receiving a charge from a Voltempo HyperCharger installation. This charging system represents the UK's first megawatt-scale charging installation for electric trucks, capable of delivering up to one megawatt of power or dynamically distributing that capacity across multiple vehicles.
The DAF XF Electric used for the crossing boasts a real-world range of up to 310 miles on a single charge and supports DC charging at up to 325kW. According to DAF, this enables daily driving distances of up to 621 miles when rapid charging infrastructure is available, even when operating with a tri-axle trailer at up to 42 tonnes gross combination weight.
Infrastructure Development Supports Long-Distance Electric Freight
Throughout the journey to Kuehne+Nagel's depot in Haiger, Germany, the two-person driving crew recharged at public high-power charging hubs in the UK, France, and Belgium. This highlights the growing availability of charging infrastructure specifically designed to support long-distance electric freight operations, addressing one of the key challenges in transitioning to zero-emission transport.
Strategic Importance for UK-EU Trade
The Channel Tunnel, operated by Eurotunnel, plays a central role in UK-EU trade, carrying around a quarter of all goods traded by value between the UK and mainland Europe. With more than one million trucks passing through the tunnel annually, the successful electric HGV crossing demonstrates how sustainable transport solutions can be integrated into this crucial trade artery. Notably, Eurotunnel's services are already powered entirely by electricity, meaning the crossing itself operates with zero direct emissions.
Government Support and Future Plans
Aviation, maritime and decarbonisation minister Keir Mather highlighted the government's commitment to supporting this transition: "We're backing British business by cutting up to £120,000 off the cost of new electric trucks and investing £120 million to roll out zero-emission lorries and the charging infrastructure needed to support them, boosting growth, UK manufacturing, and supporting jobs."
The minister added that government support has enabled companies like Kuehne+Nagel to deploy clean delivery trucks and helped fund this pioneering Channel Tunnel crossing, showcasing the substantial trading and economic opportunities presented by green freight solutions.
Looking ahead, LeShuttle Freight has announced plans to expand access for electric HGVs later this year, signalling further progress toward sustainable freight transport across the Channel. The data and operational insights gathered from this historic journey will be shared among consortium members to inform the wider rollout of zero-emission freight solutions, accelerating the decarbonisation of one of Europe's most important trade routes.
