First Electric Truck Uses UK-France Channel Tunnel in Milestone for ZEV Freight

The first electric heavy goods vehicle has successfully completed a cross-border journey between the UK and France via the Channel Tunnel, marking a major milestone for zero-emission freight transport in Europe.

The trip, carried out using LeShuttle Freight, represents the first time a fully electric HGV has travelled through the Channel Tunnel, demonstrating that battery-electric freight operations are now viable on one of Europe’s most critical trade corridors. The trial was led by logistics provider Kuehne+Nagel in partnership with LeShuttle Freight, charging specialist Voltempo, and truck manufacturer DAF.

Operated by Eurotunnel, the Channel Tunnel carries around a quarter of all UK–EU goods by value, with more than one million trucks passing through each year. As Eurotunnel’s services are powered entirely by electricity, the crossing itself produces zero direct emissions, reinforcing the significance of enabling electric trucks to complete international journeys rather than being limited to domestic routes.

The journey formed part of the eFreight 2030 project, a consortium within the UK government’s Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID) programme. Participants will share performance data and operational insights from the trip to support the wider rollout of zero-emission freight solutions. The programme is funded by the Department for Transport and delivered in partnership with Innovate UK.

The round trip covered approximately 1,056 miles across five countries using a DAF New Generation XF Electric truck. The journey began at Kuehne+Nagel’s East Midlands Gateway depot, where the vehicle was loaded with 12 tonnes of freight and charged using Voltempo’s HyperCharger. The megawatt-scale charging system, formally opened earlier this month, is the UK’s first of its kind for electric trucks and can deliver up to one megawatt of power or dynamically allocate capacity across multiple vehicles.

Along the route to Kuehne+Nagel’s depot in Haiger, Germany, the two-driver crew recharged at public high-power charging hubs in the UK, France, and Belgium, highlighting the expanding availability of long-distance charging infrastructure for electric freight. The DAF XF Electric offers a real-world range of up to 310 miles per charge and supports DC charging at up to 325 kW, enabling daily driving distances of up to 621 miles with rapid charging, even at a gross combination weight of up to 42 tonnes.

Simon Smith, CEO of Voltempo, said the trial proves electric HGVs can operate reliably on demanding cross-border routes. The government said the project underscores the growing role electric trucks can play in cutting freight emissions while supporting UK industry.