Transporting goods to the Shetland Islands is not that easy. The route is long, exposed to rough seas, fierce winds, and overall considered difficult for businesses that want to transport temperature sensitive goods. But despite the distance and the weather, Shetland has always been ahead of the curve when it comes to energy innovation.
The islands are now on the brink of a major renewable milestone. With largeāscale wind developments coming online, Shetland is set to become a significant producer of clean, locally generated electricity, creating an ideal environment for powering electric HGVs.
Recent infrastructure investments also make a difference. Charging hubs have been positioned strategically across the islands, helping reduce range anxiety and creating a nearāperfect testbed for grounding electric trucks in realāworld conditions. And this forwardālooking mindset isnāt new. Shetland has a long history of adapting to the needs of industry, once home to Europeās busiest oil terminal at Sullom Voe, and now leading the green transition with the UKās most productive wind farm and plans for future fuels and offshore wind.
In many ways, the islands act as a microcosm of the broader energy transition, where new technologies evolve and prove themselves in real time. This year, DFDS sent an electric truck to Shetland, and became one of the first operators to bring electric freight to the most difficult places to reach in the UK. This shows that electric logistics is working even in the hardest places. But letās dive a bit further and see why this is a turning point for decision makers in the logistics industry and how DFDS can help them achieve their goals.
āWeāve invested years of effort and belief into this project, so seeing the first truck now operating on Shetland soil is a truly significant moment. Being remote and far from conventional maintenance support and without existing charging infrastructure meant we had to build an entirely new ecosystem for this vehicle to thrive. That challenge became our motivation. We know this technology will bring lasting benefits to Shetland, and weāre creating the foundations today for many more vehicles, and much greater progress, to follow. This first truck is not just a milestone it marks the beginning of a cleaner, more resilient future for the islands.ā, says Bryan Hepburn, Operations Manager
Why Shetland matters for the future of electric freight
Think about it like this. If electric trucks can work here, they can work anywhere. Shetland is hard to reach because of the long distance and difficult climate, and it represents a real test for electric freight, especially when moving coldāchain products. This deployment shows that electric trucks are ready to deliver timeāsensitive goods in pristine condition, even in places where reliability matters more than anything else.
And we havenāt done this alone. Our partnership with Volvo Trucks and the recent support from Innovate UK are helping us move faster towards cleaner, more resilient supply chains. The launch of the eātruck in Shetland is part of the Zero Emission HGV & Infrastructure Demonstrator Programme, funded by the Department for Transport and delivered in partnership with Innovate UK. Together, weāre building the foundations for a wider electric shift across the UK and northern Europe, and a clear signal that the industry has entered a new phase of electrified transport.
Why is this a turning point for logistics decision-makers?
A lot of businesses want to decarbonise their supply chains, but they always wonder if electric freight can actually handle remote routes. Shetland is now an example that shows:
- EV logistics works for cold chain transport
- It holds up over long distances
- It performs in harsh climates
- It supports national decarbonisation goals
- Itās a reliable solution for real operations today
DFDSās commitment to decarbonised logistics
At DFDS, we have a lot of experience in remote and cold chain logistics that allows us to take electrification further. This deployment marks the 10th electric truck in our UK fleet, eight delivered through the ZENFreight consortium and two added earlier through a direct customer partnership.
Since the first e-truck began operating in October 2024 and December 2025 our electric trucks in the UK reduced COāe emissions by 185 tonnes (Well-to-Wheel), and our projected savings for 2026 are expected to reach 430 tonnes across the full UK fleet. The new Shetland e-truck alone is expected to save 73 tonnes of COāe in 2026, showing how even a single electric vehicle can make a meaningful difference in a remote region.
Your next step: bring electric freight into your own operations
If electric vehicles can deliver time sensitive goods in Shetland, imagine what they can do for your routes. Whether you manage temperatureāsensitive cargo, longādistance flows, or hardātoāreach regions, electric logistics is ready for you.
Weāre here to help you establish where it fits in your business, what benefits you can expect, and how quickly you can start transitioning to decarbonised solutions. Letās talk about how electric freight can support your operations today and for the long term.
