Government extends plug-in truck grant

Fleet operators will be able to access discounts of up to £120,000 on new electric trucks, according to the Department for Transport, as a result of an additional £18 million it has announced to increase the plug-in truck grant until March 2026.

The move forms part of the government’s emission reduction agenda, incorporating a wider £318 million plan for green freight designed to slash upfront costs of new lorries and lower operating costs.

The new grant levels will mean that the largest lorries (26t and over) will yield discounts of up to £120,000. Up to £80,000 will be available for the 18-26t bracket, up to £60,000 for 12-18t, and up to £20,000 for smaller trucks (4.25t to 12t).

The transport minister Keir Mather said: “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.”

John Boumphrey, UK country manager for Amazon UK, added: “Amazon welcomes the government’s continued commitment to supporting the electrification of commercial fleets.

“The UK will be home to the largest number of electric heavy goods trucks in Amazon’s global transportation network and the first of our record-breaking order of eHGVs are already on the road.

“We’re investing to help the UK decarbonise and meet our goal of being net zero carbon by 2040. We look forward to continuing to work with the government to ensure the growth of more sustainable logistics.”

Richard Smith, managing director of the Road Haulage Association (RHA), said: “This plug-in grant extension is a welcome step that goes some way towards tackling one of the biggest barriers operators face on the road to net zero: upfront vehicle cost.

“Whilst welcome, to create a fully viable zero-emission heavy-duty vehicle market this level of support must be sustained in future years – and applied to HGVs, vans and coaches.”

Simon Smith, CEO of electric vehicle charging specialist Voltempo, also welcomed the move.

“2026 is shaping up to be the year of the eHGV, and measures like the Plug-in-Truck Grant give more fleet operators the confidence to start investing,” he said.

“But incentives alone won’t deliver mass adoption. What really matter is whether electric trucks make commercial sense day-to-day.

“The challenge is total cost of ownership and operational reliability at scale. This is where public and private sectors must move together. At Voltempo, we focus on turning this ambition into operational reality. Depot charging is at the heart of this transformation allowing operators to integrate ultra-rapid, secure, and predictable charging into live operations, maximising vehicle utilisation while creating additional revenue opportunities through controlled third-party access.

“By combining charging infrastructure with intelligent data management, operators can optimise energy use, reduce operational costs, and future proof for the next generation of fleets, including MCS-capable and autonomous vehicles.

“Policy support remains crucial, but it must reflect the practical realities of commercial operations, including grid access, energy pricing, site security, and scalability. Progress will depend on close collaboration between government, industry and innovators like Voltempo harnessing British innovation to build infrastructure that works today and adapts for tomorrow.”