- The UK government has announced that the Plug-in Truck Grant will be extended until March 2026, granting transport operators significant discounts for switching to electric truck models.
- Businesses will now be able to access discounts of up to £120,000 on new electric trucks, following an additional £18 million which has been added to the grant scheme by the government.
- Currently, only around 2% of new HGVs sold in the UK are fully-electric models, but this grant, along with other supporting measures, could help to boost that percentage.
Plug-in Truck Grant continues in the UK
Whilst the everyday running costs of electric trucks typically remain much lower than their diesel counterparts, the higher initial purchase costs are one of the factors putting operators off making the switch, with the continuation of this grant scheme hoping to change that.
This isn’t the first time that the Plug-in Truck Grant has been extended, with the government marking a previous extension back in April 2025. Under the latest changes, truck operators will be able to access varying levels of discounts when purchasing new electric trucks. Trucks between 4.25 and 12 tonnes will be able to access discounts of £20,000, 12 to 18 tonnes will see up to £60,000 off, 18 to 26 tonnes up to £80,000 off, and for the largest 26 tonne-plus electric trucks, discounts of up to £120,000 will be on offer.
A number of truck operators in the UK are already making big strides in electrification. This includes Amazon, who recently announced the rollout of 160 electric Mercedes-Benz HGVs into its UK logistics fleet, as well as building firm Tarmac, who are also rolling out eHGVs right across its fleet. With this grant scheme, more operators could follow this lead.
UK Minister for Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation, Keir Mather, commented:
“We’re backing British businesses to go green by making electric lorries more affordable, helping hauliers to make the switch whilst turbocharging growth, investment and jobs in the sector.
Our proposals will provide the certainty the industry has been calling for so that Britain becomes the best place for green investment.”
Jarrod Birch, head of policy and public affairs at ChargeUK, reacted:
“The new grants are a welcome kick starter for the electrification of freight. However as with electrification of cars we need long-term, clear policy to encourage investment in both the vehicles and the charging infrastructure. So we hope to see this new funding continue beyond March and be matched with support for the rollout of the widespread and affordable charging infrastructure required for HGVs too.
Now the Government is showing an intention to support electric HGVs the charging industry will be eager to step up with an acceleration of charge point deployment. To do so a stable and clear regulatory framework is needed, including dedicated funding for charging as well as vehicles, fast tracked grid connections and mechanisms to help bring down public and depot charging costs.”
