Megawatt-scale electric HGV charging hub opens in East Midlands
The eFREIGHT 2030 consortium has opened a megawatt-scale electric heavy goods vehicle (eHGV) charging hub at Kuehne+Nagel’s East Midlands Gateway depot, as part of a government-supported effort to accelerate the deployment of zero-emission freight transport in the UK.
image: Voltempo
The site is the first deployment of Voltempo’s HyperCharger technology within the eFREIGHT 2030 programme and is designed to deliver megawatt-level direct current charging suitable for heavy-duty electric trucks. The system is intended to support rapid charging for high-utilisation freight vehicles, reducing downtime and enabling electric HGVs to operate on demanding commercial duty cycles.
The installation includes multiple high-power charging bays connected to a central charging pod, allowing energy to be dynamically distributed between vehicles depending on operational requirements. According to the consortium, the configuration is designed to be scalable, supporting future increases in vehicle numbers and charging capacity as electric HGV fleets expand.
Voltempo, which is leading the charging infrastructure element of the consortium, said the deployment demonstrates how megawatt-scale charging can be integrated into existing logistics depots. Simon Smith, chief executive of Voltempo, said the installation marked “a significant milestone for zero emission freight,” highlighting its role in proving the technical and operational feasibility of high-power charging for electric HGVs.
Kuehne+Nagel is using the site to support the rollout of electric trucks within its UK road freight operations. The company is assessing vehicle performance, charging behaviour and operational impacts, with the aim of understanding how electric HGVs could be scaled across its wider logistics network.
eFREIGHT 2030 is a large-scale demonstrator programme that aims to deploy electric HGVs alongside the infrastructure required to support them. The programme is funded through the UK government’s Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID) initiative, led by the Department for Transport and delivered with Innovate UK. ZEHID is intended to generate real-world evidence to inform future policy, regulation and investment decisions relating to zero-emission freight.
The East Midlands hub is one of a planned network of depot-based charging sites under eFREIGHT 2030, with data from the demonstrations expected to contribute to wider government objectives to decarbonise road freight and support the UK’s commitment to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.