How DP World Supports eHGVs in Logistics

DP World is expanding its work to make logistics more sustainable with electric trucks.

The company launched its Low Carbon Truck Programme (LCTP) in September 2025 and this has been expanded to integrate the Electric Vehicle Transition & Introduction Accelerator (EVITA) trial.

With more than 4,000 trucks arriving at its two UK ports daily, DP World's approach addresses both immediate emission reductions and longer-term electrification goals.

The programmes could provide a model for how large logistics players might support smaller operators in navigating the costly transition to sustainable transport.

The Low Carbon Truck Programme

Road transport accounts for a substantial portion of global carbon emissions.

The LCTP was designed to help mitigate this impact by offering UK heavy goods vehicle fleet owners access to Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) at no additional cost.

HVO is a renewable diesel substitute which could reduce emissions by up to 90% compared with fossil fuels.

Fleet owners can claim up to 5,000 litres of HVO per vehicle, alongside carbon literacy training aimed at reducing transport emissions across their operations.

This initial programme represents an attempt to make lower-carbon fuel more accessible to operators who use DP World's ports, potentially removing cost barriers that might otherwise prevent smaller fleets from adopting cleaner alternatives.

Zero emission vehicles

Building on the LCTP, DP World launched its EVITA trial, which focuses on zero tailpipe emission vehicles rather than simply lower-emission alternatives:

"As an expansion to our Low Carbon Truck Programme (LCTP) we have launched our Electric Vehicle Transition & Introduction Accelerator (EVITA) trial – a pragmatic approach to support container truck operators to trial zero tailpipe emission vehicles for container work," explains John Trenchard, VP of Sustainable International Supply Chains at DP World Europe.

The trial involves collaboration with the Centre for Sustainable Road Freight at the University of Cambridge and its JOLT programme.

Between January and June 2026, four electric heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) will be tested by LCTP members, with two 42-tonne electric trucks already assigned to local hauliers for container transport at Southampton.

"Earlier this month we made another small but important step to support customers with lower carbon containerised supply chain solutions in the UK, by assigning two 42 tonne electric HGVs to local hauliers for container transport at Southampton," says John.

"Natalie Noke, Director at SJG Haulage & Commercial workshop and James Watts, Managing Director at Port Express Limited took delivery of the first EVITA trial trucks at DP World Southampton, where our new driver welfare facilities and twin electric truck charging stations (with 360kWh capacity) support operators with the EV transition. These trucks are now at work with container trucking deliveries to and from Southampton."

The site now features driver welfare facilities and twin electric truck charging stations with 360kWh capacity, providing infrastructure to support operators during the transition.

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Supporting smaller operators in decarbonisation

The financial burden of switching to electric HGVs could present significant challenges, particularly for smaller businesses with limited resources.

While the long-term benefits might include operational savings, the upfront costs often prove prohibitive for family-run fleets competing against larger operators.

"The focus on helping small fleets to decarbonise and finding practical solutions to their electrification problems is critically important to the energy transition for trucking. Small (family run) businesses are the backbone of the industry and run most of the world's trucks," says David Cebon, Director of Centre for Sustainable Road Freight and Professor of Mechanical Engineering at University of Cambridge.

"They also do the most difficult logistics tasks, need flexible vehicles with large ranges and extensive charging infrastructure and of course, small companies have the least resources available to fund the transition.

"DP World is one of very few large companies in logistics that are taking positive steps to help SMEs. This lines-up perfectly with the objectives of Project JOLT - so we are delighted to collaborate on this project!"

Through these combined initiatives, DP World's approach addresses Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions across the supply chain, potentially offering a practical framework for logistics decarbonisation that extends beyond the company's direct operations.