The Challenge: Reducing Emissions in Road Freight
Over 80% of domestic goods transported in the UK in 2023 were moved by road, with the majority carried by heavy goods vehicles (HGVs). These vehicles currently account for approximately 19% of all UK domestic transport greenhouse gas emissions. To align with the Government’s Net Zero Strategy, this figure will have to reduce to zero by 2050.
To support this transition, we collaborated with the Connected Places Catapult to develop standards and best-practice guidance for battery-electric and hydrogen-fuelled HGVs. Our work runs alongside the Zero Emission HGVs and Infrastructure Demonstrators (ZEHID), funded by the Department for Transport (DfT), where we play a key role in supporting trials and capturing insights ahead of large-scale deployments.
Steered by the diverse experience of a dynamic industry
From the outset, we have engaged with a diverse range of stakeholders across the logistics, automotive, and energy sectors. A Strategic Advisory Group—comprising truck manufacturers, hauliers, charging operators, trade associations, government agencies, and highway authorities— has guided the prioritization and ensured that standards development was relevant and timely.
Chris Ashley, representing the 8,500 members of the Road Haulage Association, highlights the importance of this collaborative effort: “It has been delightful to work with industry partners, led by BSI, to define recognised standards. With this clarity in place, operators can plan with confidence to bring zero-emission commercial vehicles into their fleets.”
After extensive industry engagement—including roundtables, interviews, surveys, and literature reviews—we identified three key focus areas, related to charging, refuelling and workshops, each forming the basis of a new BSI Flex standard.
Publicly accessible charging sites for battery electric HGVs
Public charging sites for HGVs are a relatively new type of infrastructure, with limited guidance available on their design, safety, and accessibility requirements. Unlike passenger car charging stations, HGV charging sites must accommodate larger vehicles, potentially requiring longer dwell times and support facilities, needing a tailored approach.
BSI Flex 2071 provides practical recommendations for conducting risk assessments, optimizing site layouts, and implementing appropriate safety measures. It also aligns with key industry frameworks, such as RIBA design stages, CDM regulations, and international technical standards for specific systems and components.
"It was an honour to interface with many leaders withing the electric charging space for LGVs and HGVs. Charging and vehicle technology is changing at an unprecedented rate, therefore the safety of drivers and their cargo has to always be a top priority.” confirms Matthew Loser, Chief Engineer at Aegis Energy and one of the contributors to the development of the standard. “The Flex has a genuine focus on giving drivers a consistent experience across charging sites throughout the UK. This common driver experience will help to reduce the anxiety of transitioning to zero emission fuels and accelerate the decarbonisation of UK commercial vehicles."
Inspecting and repairing zero-emission HGVs
To ensure that battery-electric and hydrogen-fuelled HGVs can be safely and effectively maintained, the upskilling of technicians and workshop staff is crucial. Both routine maintenance and emergency repairs require specific expertise, tools, and safety protocols.
Flex 2072 outlines detailed guidance on maintenance procedures, necessary equipment, and safety measures, referencing national and international regulations. It also defines roles and responsibilities within workshops, ensuring staff have the required competencies and training. Recognizing its value, the Society of Operational Engineers has integrated Flex 2072 into the updated IRTEC qualification, supporting the next generation of skilled technicians.
Safe hydrogen refuelling sites
The hydrogen refuelling infrastructure for roadworthy vehicles is in its infancy: designers and operators of hydrogen dispensers can refer to multiple relevant regulations and international standards, applicable to components and protocols dealing with hydrogen and other hazardous substances. However, the lack of specific, overarching guidance makes implementation challenging.
In response, BSI Flex 2073 provides comprehensive guidance on designing and operating both mobile and static hydrogen dispensers, ensuring safety, reliability, efficiency and suitability for various hydrogen service levels and fuel grades.
This standard aligns with the Hydrogen Energy Association’s 2024 call for refuelling standards in their ‘10 Quick Wins to Boost the Hydrogen Economy’ manifesto, and consolidates operational expertise from hydrogen suppliers and health & safety professionals.
What’s Next?
Nick Fleming, Director of Transport & Mobility, BSI looks ahead: “With decarbonization of the road freight sector playing such a critical role in reducing the UK's emissions from transport, this programme has highlighted the importance of standardization and we see exciting opportunities to both share knowledge with and to learn from the likes of the van, bus and coach sector, who face similar challenges in the transition to net zero.”
We’re looking forward to seeing these standards implemented in upcoming trials and across the broader road freight industry. Our role doesn’t end here—we will continue to work with ZEHID consortia and other stakeholders to capture learnings, gather feedback, and refine our guidance.
As the sector evolves and commercial applications increase, new challenges will undoubtedly emerge. Some of the potential upcoming priority areas have already been identified by industry stakeholders:
- Shared use of bus garages for other heavy-duty vehicles;
- Protocols for roadside recovery of battery-electric and hydrogen-fuelled vehicles;
- Planning and design of charging sites within private depots;
- Protocols for scheduling, managing and booking timeslots at charging sites.
Beyond HGVs, these standards have the potential to benefit other transport segments, including buses, coaches, non-road mobile machinery, and smaller commercial vehicles. As trials scale up and commercial services expand, the need for harmonized best practices will grow, and we are committed to helping the industry navigate this transition.
To access the standards and related resources please visit our Zero Emission HGVs and Infrastructure Standards Programme page.
