Eurotunnel enables the testing of a zero direct emission road freight corridor 

First crossing of a fully electric freight truck
on a LeShuttle Freight shuttle

Eurotunnel has taken a major new step in the decarbonisation of cross‑Channel transport with the first passage of a 100% electric heavy goods vehicle on a LeShuttle Freight shuttle.
This operation is the result of a partnership between Kuehne+Nagel, DAF Trucks and Voltempo, testing the full feasibility of an international direct‑emission‑free logistics corridor between the United Kingdom and mainland Europe.

A fully electric 1,700‑km journey for a Kuehne+Nagel freight truck from England to Germany

The journey began at Kuehne+Nagel’s East Midlands Gateway depot in the United Kingdom, where the DAF New Generation XF Electric truck was loaded with 12 tonnes of goods before being recharged using the Voltempo HyperCharger, the UK’s first megawatt‑level charging installation for heavy goods vehicles.
Over the 1,700 km from the UK to Germany, the vehicle completed several recharging stops at public stations operated by Gridserve, Milence in Dunkirk, and Maasmechelen in Germany, confirming the rapid development of high‑power infrastructure required for long‑distance electric freight in Europe.

A first for the development of low‑carbon logistics in Europe

The Channel Tunnel is one of Europe’s most strategic trade routes, handling more than one million heavy goods vehicles per year and accounting for nearly a quarter of the value of trade between the United Kingdom and the European Union.
While the LeShuttle Freight crossing is already fully electric thanks to Eurotunnel’s infrastructure, this first eHGV (electric Heavy Goods Vehicle) operation demonstrates that the Tunnel can now serve as a genuine zero‑direct‑emission corridor, provided it is used by electric trucks. It confirms that decarbonised freight solutions are now technically operational, reliable, and compatible with the needs of international supply chains.

A new illustration of Eurotunnel’s potential to accelerate low‑carbon trade

This crossing provides concrete proof of Eurotunnel and LeShuttle Freight’s ability to support the energy transition of road transport. It shows that decarbonised cross‑Channel transport is now simple, efficient and ready for large‑scale deployment.
It fits fully within Getlink’s low‑carbon strategy, which aims to offer infrastructure ready for freight decarbonisation and to support carriers in adopting electric solutions.
By demonstrating that electric cross‑Channel transport is already viable at scale, Getlink reaffirms its key role in the sustainable transformation of European supply chains.