National Highways Charts Ambitious EV Transition Across 2,000-Vehicle Fleet

Martin Edgecox, National Highways’ national fleet manager, oversees a diverse fleet of around 2,000 vehicles that keep the UK’s strategic road network running smoothly.

From high-visibility traffic officer 4x4s to specialized inspection and support units, the fleet is critical to maintaining, repairing, and protecting the roads that underpin the country’s economy.

Speaking at the recent Fleet200 meeting at Down Hall Hotel on the Hertfordshire–Essex border, Edgecox explained the scale and complexity of his role. “National Highways is a government arm’s-length organisation funded by the Department for Transport,” he said. “We provide a 24-hour service to protect people on the strategic road network. The fleet is a key part of that, keeping the network safe and operational and keeping the country moving.”

While drivers frequently spot traffic officer vehicles, the majority of the fleet operates behind the scenes. Edgecox highlighted the range of vehicles: “If you’re on the motorway, you see some of our fleet, but there’s a lot of hidden vehicles supporting repairs, maintenance, and inspections. It’s a diverse operation.”

Despite the fleet’s size, the central management team consists of just nine people. Outsourcing remains essential to daily operations, with a focus on maintaining high Vehicle Off-Road (VOR) rates. Edgecox praised his back-office team: “The really important element people forget is business support. Managing finance, logistics, delivery, collection, and disposal across 2,000-plus vehicles is no small task. I can’t sing my team’s praises highly enough.”

The EV Challenge

National Highways faces particular challenges in its electrification journey. Unlike emergency services, it does not benefit from exemptions from zero-emission deadlines. All vehicles are expected to be zero-emission by 2027, including heavy-duty 4x4 traffic officer units that tow vehicles, carry crash-scene equipment, and remain on-site for extended periods.

“The initial target was to transition 25% of the car fleet to plug-in hybrids by 2022. We achieved 65%,” Edgecox said. “But moving to full battery-electric vehicles is far more complex in our environment.”

Early EV trials provided valuable lessons. Tesla vehicles were stress-tested by traffic officers and inspectors, who pushed them to operational limits. “Feedback was outstanding. We purchased 21 Teslas, and engagement has been strong,” Edgecox said. Success with Tesla has led to trials with other models, including the Kia EV9 and Volvo EX90.

Strategy and Collaboration

Edgecox emphasized that electrification is not just about vehicles. “We’re reviewing long-term arrangements around charging infrastructure. Do we focus on low-hanging fruit, or do we seriously invest to increase capacity and explore other opportunities?”

Collaboration with other public-sector fleets is also a priority. “There’s huge potential for shared charging spaces and closer alignment with other organisations. We need to get better at this,” he said.

National Highways’ approach demonstrates that fleet electrification is more than a technology shift—it requires operational adaptation, staff engagement, infrastructure planning, and inter-agency collaboration. Edgecox’s team is tackling all of these elements while ensuring the network remains safe and efficient.

In the words of Edgecox, “Our mission is to protect the network and keep the country moving. That doesn’t stop because we’re electrifying—it just makes the challenge even more interesting.”