On 23 September 2025, more than 90 delegates from across the freight and logistics sector came together at the Birmingham Energy Innovation Centre for a hands-on look at the technologies transforming commercial transport.
Hosted by Motor Transport, and supported by Ryze Power, Ford & Slater, Optimize and ViGo Bioenergy, the Decarbonisation Study Tour was designed to give fleet operators, suppliers, and trade and research bodies a deep technical dive into the innovation powering the journey to zero emissions.
A collaborative format for practical learning
Delegates were welcomed by Steve Hobson, Editor of Motor Transport, before hearing from David Horsfall, TEP Birmingham’s Director of Property & Sustainability, who introduced the site as a living ecosystem of clean growth innovation.
Attendees were invited to take part in the following key activity streams and explore this emerging technology first hand:
- The Classroom: A technical deep dive into AI, battery-electric freight, and biomethane production
- The Innovation Tour: A guided look inside Voltempo’s Hypercharger facility
- The Refuelling Site: Showcasing the capabilities of hydrogen, HVO, electric and biomethane refuelling
Innovation in action
Highlights included the official launch of Voltempo’s Hypercharger production line, a vertical charging system designed for electric trucks, which was unveiled by CEO Michael Boxwell. The event was very well attended, with notable guests including Sir Vince Cable.
Delegates also explored:
- The Bulldog eTrailer, developed by Berkeley Coachworks, which can extend a truck’s range by more than 50% without payload penalty
- Early-stage developments in autonomous HGVs, led by the eFREIGHT Autonomous consortium
- Biomethane, hydrogen and HVO as part of a practical look at multi-fuel solutions already available at TEP Birmingham’s refuelling hub
Why it matters
The study tour captured TEP Birmingham’s unique ability to bring innovators, operators, policymakers, and investors together on one site to see real innovation and clean growth solutions in action.
As the UK’s Industrial Strategy sets ambitious targets for clean energy and transport, TEP Birmingham is a leading the way in demonstrating how those ambitions translate into practical deployment, here, in East Birmingham.
Powering possibility together
Events like this are more than just knowledge-sharing exercises. They are proof points that decarbonisation is no longer a distant goal but a live, investable opportunity.
By showcasing innovation across fuels, vehicles, and charging, TEP Birmingham is helping businesses make confident choices today, and building momentum for a cleaner, more prosperous future for transportation.
Learn more about how we’re supporting the West Midlands decarbonisation efforts here.