Fleet joins real-world trials of hydrogen and electric vehicles

John G Russell (Transport) is joining ZenFreight, part of the UK Government’s Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID) programme.

The company, which operates 250 vehicles, will take part in real-world trials of hydrogen fuel cell (HFCEV) and battery electric HGVs.

Under the ZenFreight project, led by Dynamon, John G Russell Transport (Russell) will take three MAN battery electric HGVs and three hydrogen-electric Scania HFCEVs, which in a 6 by 2 configuration will be the first of their kind to be trialled in the UK.

Uniquely among the four ZEHID consortia, which are funded by the Department for Transport (DfT) and delivered in partnership with Innovate UK, ZenFreight enables operators to directly compare the performance of BEVs with HFCEVs in real world operation.

Russell will also be part of the consortium’s nationwide network of depot-based electric charging infrastructure as well as installing a hydrogen storage and filling solution at their depot in Coatbridge, near Glasgow.

Headquartered in Glasgow, with 14 depots across the country, Russell joins existing ZenFreight fleets - Gregory Distribution, Maritime Transport and DFDS - along with academic partner Imperial College London, and truck manufacturers DAF Trucks, Daimler Trucks, Scania, and Volvo Trucks.

Graham Russell, a director at the transport company, said: “It has taken a great effort by our team led by group fleet engineer, Stephen Madden, to put us in the position where we are now proud to be announced as having joined ZenFreight and build on the great work already undertaken by our consortium colleagues.

“Our group is committed to sustainable logistics, using innovation and cutting-edge technology to reduce our environmental impact.

“As a key player in our customers’ supply chains, we take this responsibility seriously.”

By sharing the complex depot charging infrastructure required for both alternative fuel types during the demonstration, ZenFreight consortium members aims to accelerate adoption and utilisation across their fleets and across the country.

Russell continued: “The ZEHID demonstration project is a major step forward, allowing us to trial both electric and hydrogen technologies for heavy duty transport in real world operation, an exciting opportunity to build confidence in the future of zero emission freight, and we are delighted to be at the forefront, and play our part in driving the transition to cleaner, greener logistics.”

Angus Webb, CEO of Dynamon, which leads the ZenFreight consortium, welcomed Russell to the consortium. “With a nationwide fleet and a seamlessly connected road and rail network, Russell delivers high-standard logistics solutions across the FMCG sector and beyond with an unwavering commitment to sustainability, making them the ideal fleet to demonstrate zero-emission vehicles,” he said.

All vehicles in the ZenFreight project are set to be on the road by March 2026, with the majority of sites going live during 2025 and will operate for five years as part of the ZEHID demonstration phase, with performance benchmarked against diesel equivalents.

Throughout this period, the project will collect valuable data and insights to strengthen the business case for scaling up zero-emission vehicle deployment.