A new Voltempo-led consortium, SCALE – Scotland Charging to Accelerate Logistics Electrification, has been launched to tackle one of Scotland’s most pressing transport challenges: cutting the 12.8% of national CO₂ emissions generated by HGV fleets.
Backed by Transport Scotland through its £2 million HGV Market Readiness Fund and led by next generation eHGV charging solutions innovator Voltempo, SCALE brings together a group of forward-thinking Scottish hauliers and logistics partners committed to accelerating the shift to electric heavy goods vehicles.
Pioneering leaders in Scotland’s zero-emission freight transition, including Creel Maritime drawing on its Net Zero Timhaul partnership with Scotlog, and James Jones & Sons, will join a wider group of carriers preparing to introduce new electric vehicles into service.
SCALE will deploy the latest electric HGVs from a number of vehicle manufacturers from 7.5 tonnes up to 44 tonnes, testing and proving their capability in a range of demanding real-world applications across Scotland, including food distribution, next-day parcel deliveries to remote communities, and the movement of critical medical supplies.
Central to SCALE’s approach is the creation of a community-owned charging network, with an expected emphasis on shared charging hubs to support both large and small fleets. Dedicated financial support packages will be available, particularly targeting smaller vehicle operators, that are the lifeblood of the Scottish haulier sector.
Voltempo will coordinate the consortium from a new Glasgow office, situated near two forthcoming Voltempo HyperCharger sites scheduled to go live in 2026.
The SCALE consortium builds on Voltempo’s experience as project lead in the UK-wide eFREIGHT 2030 consortium, part of the UK government’s £200m Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator Programme (ZEHID).
Michael Boxwell, Founder of Voltempo, said:
“Scotland has the vision, and now the opportunity, to accelerate the transition to zero-emission freight and we are delighted to be leading SCALE, a consortium specifically designed to give hauliers the confidence, the infrastructure and the support they need to make the switch to electric. By working together, we can build a national charging ecosystem that works for every operator, from major fleets to the smallest rural haulier, and that allows Scotland to meet its ambitious freight decarbonisation targets.”
The SCALE proposal will be reviewed by Transport Scotland in early 2026 and, if successful, the rollout is expected to begin later that year.
Businesses interested in joining the project, particularly small fleet operators, are encouraged to contact: enquiries@SCALE.scot.
Hear Michael Boxwell and Andrew Scott discussing SCALE at RTX Scotland, SEC, Glasgow, on Thursday 20 November in the following conference sessions:
- Transport Scotland: how far can we go? Progress towards electric HGVs in Scotland
10:30 am - 11:25 am - Future-gazing
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
