Charge towards zero-emissions infrastructure steps up a gear

Progress on the development of the electrical charging and hydrogen refuelling infrastructure that the UK road transport sector will require to meet looming decarbonisation targets took several steps forward this month.

In Immingham, Milence – the joint venture between truck manufacturers Daimler Truck, Traton Group and Volvo Group that has committed to build 1,700 high-capacity charging points in Europe by 2027 – opened the first public UK charging hub for HGVs at Able Humber Port – while at the Port of Tilbury in Essex, construction got underway on a dedicated charging hub for commercial vehicles expected to be the UK’s largest, with completion due in December.

Meanwhile, at a summit for the Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrations (ZEHID) programme in London, the roads minister Lilian Greenwood unveiled the planned locations for a network of 54 new infrastructure hubs as part of the government-funded scheme, covering both HGV charging and hydrogen refuelling, with sites in all four constituent nations of the UK to support the government’s commitment to end the sale of new non-zero-emission trucks by 2040.

The announced hubs are each being led by one of four flagship consortia which together form the ZEHID programme – Project Electric Freightway, eFreight2030, ZENFreight and HyHAUL.

In her keynote speech at the event, Ms Greenwood highlighted the progress of the ZEHID project so far. She said that as of December, more than 230 zero-emission HGVs had been ordered, with over 30 having been delivered and entering operation.

“Supporting infrastructure is a big barrier for operators considering the switch,” she said.

“This programme is tackling that head-on…

“By monitoring vehicle performance, engine efficiency and operational costs, we’re giving operators the confidence to invest in technology that works for them. This isn’t just about meeting government targets – it’s about ensuring that businesses can plan for the future with certainty…

“From Scotland to the south coast, from city hubs and depots to motorway service areas, we’re ensuring that zero-emission freight isn’t just possible – it’s practical…

“For operators, this means certainty. It means knowing that when they invest in zero-emission HGVs, the infrastructure will be there to support them. And as more sites come online, that certainty will only grow, making it easier and easier for businesses to make the switch.”

Dr Isabella Panovic, the programme manager for ZEHID at Innovate UK which leads on the scheme, told delegates in her presentation at the summit that the vehicles being deployed were mostly 4×2 tractor units, all in the 40-44t GVW category, from a range of OEMs. Most ordered vehicles were battery-electric, with some hydrogen fuel cell models. Ancillary equipment such as refrigerated trailers – both new and retrofitted units – and range extension trailer technology were also being explored as part of the scheme.

Electric charging infrastructure on the scheme would be approximately 90 per cent based at depots, she revealed, with 10 per cent at motorway service areas. Three of the locations would be public access hydrogen refuelling sites.

Dr Panovic also highlighted a number of the developments in infrastructure taking place outside of the ZEHID scheme, including the Milence opening at Immingham, and plans by Aegis Energy to create up to 30 mixed refuelling sites across the UK in the coming years. In addition, she cited “really great conversations” with passenger transport giant First Bus around the sharing of infrastructure, including access to bus depot charging facilities for HGV operators.

Following contributions by various stakeholders, the final presentation at the summit was from Michael Campbell of environmental and engineering consultancy Ricardo – a provider of technical monitoring and evaluation for the ZEHID scheme – who outlined some of the data-driven insights being gleaned.

So far, he said, the indications were that electric trucks were being used on shorter trips than their diesel equivalents, and largely at lower speeds. He attributed this to the likelihood that the electric trucks were being used for driver training and for use on less demanding, non-motorway routes, as well as constraints due to current lack of charging provision.

While acknowledging the limitations of data due to the relatively small sample size, short timespan and the fact that the current use of zero-emissions vehicles may not be representative of their future application, Mr Campbell said that the electric trucks had so far been shown to have around half the energy demand – double the efficiency – of diesel vehicles.

In terms of emissions, he revealed, electric trucks were being found to be reducing greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 64 per cent compared to diesel, even assuming the use of grid electricity, with larger reductions possible when using renewable power.

Chris Ashley, Road Haulage Association senior policy lead, said of the ZEHID presentation: “We are very pleased at the announcement of the long-awaited map of government-funded public electric charging and hydrogen refilling points for zero emission HGVs in the UK.

“This development will give operators more confidence when planning the transition of their fleets to non-diesel vehicles.

“We look forward to seeing more information about these sites and will continue to work with governments, stakeholders and our industry on charting a supportive journey to net zero.”

Simon Buckley, knowledge transfer manager for zero emission mobility at Innovate UK, said: “The announcement of 54 new infrastructure hubs marks a transformative moment for the UK’s freight industry. By strategically placing these hubs across the country, we are addressing one of the biggest barriers to zero-emission HGV adoption; reliable infrastructure.

“This programme not only accelerates the transition to cleaner transport but also strengthens supply chain resilience, ensuring businesses can move goods sustainably without compromising efficiency.”

Meanwhile, Milence said its newly opened Immingham hub was ideally placed to serve logistics operations connecting the UK and Europe, its site on the A180 providing direct access to the M180, M18 and M1 motorways.

Phase one of the hub incorporates four high-performance combined charging system (CCS) chargers, which power eight charging bays offering up to 400kW power output. A second phase of the project will see megawatt charging system (MCS) chargers installed.

Milence CEO Anja van Niersen said: “The opening of our first UK charge hub in Immingham marks a significant step in the UK’s transition to electric road transport. This strategically located site underscores our commitment to providing reliable and accessible charging infrastructure for the growing number of electric truck operators.

“This is just the first step in our UK expansion, and we are dedicated to working with all stakeholders to accelerate the shift towards a sustainable future for the transport industry.”

Charging solutions provider Fleete said that the site now under construction at Tilbury comprises a 5 megawatt (MW) charging station whose rapid chargers can serve up to 16 electric HGVs at once.

It should have no shortage of potential users; more than 60 companies with CV fleets are registered as tenants at the port, among them major hauliers and container transporters.

Chris Morrison, chief investment officer at Fleete, said: “We are delighted to begin work on the first of our network of shared electric HGV charging hubs throughout the UK, starting with our 5MW project at Tilbury which is expected to be the largest of its kind in the UK once fully operational.

“Our close collaboration with the Port of Tilbury, along with significant funding from Thames Freeport, is a testament to their commitment to accelerating the shift to zero-emission fleets with this critical infrastructure development.

“At Fleete we are committed to overcoming the logistical and financial challenges of fleet electrification through our shared infrastructure hubs and software platform that make sustainable transport more accessible and cost-effective.

“This investment is a crucial step in building a net-zero logistics ecosystem and ensuring that the businesses in and around the Port of Tilbury have the resources they need to transition to cleaner transport alternatives.”

Meanwhile Moto, the motorway services giant and a partner in Project Electric Freightway, last month announced plans to open a national network of 23 truck charging ‘superhubs’ by 2030, with construction of the first two at its Exeter and Tamworth sites expected to begin in April.

Moto says its superhubs, 15 of which it aims to open by the end of 2027 followed by a further eight by 2030, are expected to offer capacity for up to 5,000 electric trucks at as many as 300 charging bays.

Ken McKeikan, the CEO of the motorway services operator, commented: “Just as we have done for passenger cars, where we now have over 1,000 EV charging bays, Moto will lead the way in creating a sustainable, accessible, and reliable charging network for trucks and lorries.

“Our eHGV superhubs will support the decarbonisation of the transportation network, a key part of the energy transition.

“This critical infrastructure will unlock electric freight growth for the UK economy.”