Mercedes invests in UK EV technology  

Mercedes will invest £10mn of its own capital, matched by a further £10mn from the government, to develop high-power drive systems for electrified and hybrid performance cars.  

The IGNITED project, led by Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains – known for the power units used in Formula 1 cars – will include YASA and DePe Gear Company, with production expected within three years. Over 150 jobs across Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire are expected to be created.

Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle said: ‘By keeping advanced manufacturing expertise here in the UK, we’re building the supply chains and skills that will power our auto industry for decades to come.’

The Mercedes-led scheme is part of a wider push to electrify the UK automotive sector. The government recently confirmed a total of £4bn in public funding for DRIVE35, a programme supporting the development of batteries, electric motors, hydrogen fuel cells and power electronics alongside electrification of vehicle manufacturing hotspots nationwide.

New consortium targets breakthrough in Scotland’s freight decarbonisation

A new consortium has been launched to tackle emissions from Scotland’s HGV fleets, which account for 12.8% of the country’s CO₂ output.

Supported by Transport Scotland, the Scotland Charging to Accelerate Logistics Electrification (SCALE) consortium brings together hauliers, logistics operators and technology partners to accelerate the adoption of eHGVs.

The project will test vehicles ranging from 7.5 to 44 tonnes in real-world operations across Scotland, including food distribution, next-day parcel deliveries to remote communities and the transport of critical medical supplies.  

A key element of SCALE is the development of a community-owned charging network, with shared hubs designed to serve fleets of all sizes. Financial support packages will also be available to smaller operators, which make up a significant portion of Scotland’s haulage sector.

The consortium’s proposal will be reviewed by Transport Scotland in early 2026, with a potential rollout later that year.

UK eHGV fleets pass half a million zero-emission miles  

UK eHGV fleets have now surpassed 500,000 zero-emission miles, according to the Electric Freightway report.

Led by Gridserve and Hitachi ZeroCarbon under the Department for Transport and Innovate UK’s Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator programme, the report finds that fleet uptake is exceeding expectations: 79 electric trucks have already been delivered, with 78 more on order – surpassing the original target of 140. Operators include Amazon, Royal Mail, GXO and Wincanton, covering retail, logistics, utilities and manufacturing sectors.

Infrastructure developments include the UK’s largest dedicated eHGV depot charging hub, a 10-bay shared Charge Yard at Nissan’s Sunderland carmaking factory, alongside ongoing work on public charging sites to support long-haul operations and improve network flexibility.

Initial data from the project shows that, under certain conditions, eHGVs can achieve lower total cost of ownership than diesel equivalents, particularly for high-mileage operations. Lifecycle emissions for diesel trucks remain up to three times higher than eHGVs, with embedded emissions offset within the first year.

‘Crossing half a million electric miles is a clear signal that eHGVs are not just viable, but already delivering in the real world,’ noted Leon Clarke, Head of Operations and Delivery at Hitachi ZeroCarbon.