Fleet operators unable to transition directly to battery electric vehicles are exploring interim measures to reduce emissions, according to insights shared at Fleet & Mobility Live. The discussion focused on alternatives for light commercial vehicle (LCV) and heavy goods vehicle (HGV) fleets, which trail the passenger car market in zero-emission adoption.
Brought to you by Fleet News, this year’s event welcomed 2,200+ fleet professionals to explore their options, learn from experts and find practical ideas for their businesses.
Data-Driven Decisions
All panelists emphasized the importance of data in guiding fleet decarbonization strategies. “The place you have to start is with data and information. You have to have that solid platform upon which you’re going to base your decisions and your plans,” said Mark Johnson, head of transport and commercial for Welsh Water.
Melanie Creedy, EV business development manager at Northgate Mobility, highlighted the need to engage drivers during the transition. “It’s really driver engagement, starting with what is their sentiment towards that,” she noted, adding that data can help address concerns like range anxiety.
Plug-In Hybrids as a Bridge
Andrew Teer, transport operations manager at Smith Bros, discussed plug-in hybrids as a transitional option. “I think the difficulty is that from 2028, as it stands at the minute, benefit-in-kind aren’t going to be very friendly,” he said, suggesting that regulatory changes may push fleets to skip hybrids and move directly to full electrification.
Creedy warned that without proper charging protocols, plug-in hybrids can become inefficient. “Don’t want hybrids running around, never charging, carrying batteries around, and not being as efficient as they should be,” she said, stressing the importance of infrastructure and driver training.
HVO and Hydrogen Alternatives
Beyond electrification, hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) was presented as a practical short-term solution. Johnson described HVO as “a bit of a low-hanging fruit,” noting that the HGV sector accounts for roughly 25% of total emissions. “It can take out 25% of the emissions,” he said, adding that implementation requires minimal infrastructure investment.
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He also pointed to HVO’s strategic value, particularly in scenarios where fuel supply disruptions are a risk.
Hydrogen fuel cells were discussed as a longer-term prospect, though panelists acknowledged significant barriers. Teer noted that hydrogen may find its niche in long-haul logistics, but infrastructure remains a limiting factor.
Johnson suggested that hydrogen adoption will likely begin in sectors with established industrial hubs. If you’ve got an HGV hub going from one refinery to another, then hydrogen will make sense,” he said.
Cost and accessibility were major concerns raised by Creedy. “Making sure it’s green because otherwise, it’s just not going to add up,” she said, emphasizing that hydrogen-powered vehicles are significantly more expensive than their electric counterparts and require substantial infrastructure development.
The full session is available online, along with other speaker seminars from Fleet & Mobility Live 2026.
Make sure you join us next year at Fleet Live on 5–6 October 2027, at the NEC Birmingham. Sign up for updates now and start planning ahead for 2027.
