SCALE consortium set to advance trucking electrification across Scotland
The SCALE project is being supported by Transport Scotland’s £2 million HGV Market Readiness Fund and aims to deploy electric trucks from between 7.5 tonnes and 44 tonnes from several manufacturers. The consortium is aiming to test and prove the capability of different HGVs (heavy-duty goods vehicles) in different real-world applications across Scotland. This includes critical services in underserved areas, focusing on routes for pharmaceutical movements, food distribution and the next-day delivery of parcels to remote communities.
The consortium of companies looking to electrify or further electrify their fleets includes Creel Maritime with its Net Zero Timhaul partnership with Scotlog, and James Jones & Sons. The SCALE proposal will be reviewed by Transport Scotland early next year, and – if approved – rollout will begin later in 2026.
Transport Scotland aptly identified the classic chicken-or-the-egg-first issue of transport electrification with vehicles and charging infrastructure when it developed the funding scheme revealed in July 2025. SCALE aims to address this issue by creating a community-owned charging network. Shared charging hubs are targeted for utilisation by both large and small fleet operators. Another common hurdle to fleet electrification has also been clearly identified by the funders and stakeholders, namely upfront costs of fleet electrification: SCALE aims to make financial support packages available, in particular for smaller businesses.
The consortium’s activities are to be coordinated by Voltempo, which is simultaneously leading the UK-wide eFreight 2030 consortium. Voltempo is headquartered in Glasgow and expects to open two Voltempo HyperCharger sites – featuring its own Megawatt Charging Systems (MCS) for eHGVs – in 2026.
Michael Boxwell, founder of Voltempo, said: “Scotland has the vision, and now the opportunity, to accelerate the transition to zero-emission freight, and we are delighted to be leading SCALE, a consortium specifically designed to give hauliers the confidence, the infrastructure and the support they need to make the switch to electric.” He noted the importance of collaboration, “By working together, we can build a national charging ecosystem that works for every operator, from major fleets to the smallest rural haulier, and that allows Scotland to meet its ambitious freight decarbonisation targets.”
Scotland is advancing the decarbonisation of its transport sectors across the country. This also includes public transport, e-bike schemes, and maritime applications, with the notoriously challenging task of decarbonising shipping. Electrification for cars has also progressed with low-emission zones in several cities and numerous fast-charging networks.
0 Comentarios