Electric HGV charging ‘superhubs’ planned for motorway services

A new national network of charging stations for electric heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) will be built, with the first 15 ‘superhubs’ to be opened by the end of 2027. 

Motorway services operator Moto plans to install up to 300 charging bays for electric HGVs at 23 strategic locations by 2030. 

Construction of the first two superhubs at Exeter and Tamworth is due to start in April, following a recent planning approval. 

The superhubs are expected to provide capacity for up to 5,000 electric trucks, significantly reducing emissions by more than 500,000 metric tons of CO₂ per year, the equivalent of planting more than 20 million trees.

Moto's CEO, Ken McMeikan, said: “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.” 

The Climate Change Committee's (CCC) Seventh Carbon Budget, released last week, underscored the necessity of upgrading the UK's grid infrastructure to facilitate the transition to low-carbon energy and transportation systems.

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

With the logistics industry under increasing pressure to decarbonise, Moto says it will work with industry partners and Government to create the new network, enabling fleet operators to meet environmental targets while keeping the nation’s supply chains moving. 

Provision of en-route infrastructure limited

The provision of en-route infrastructure is limited, with fewer than five HGV-dedicated charge points on UK roads. 

Shell opened its first electric truck charging station in the UK at the Shell Markham Moor Truck Stop in Nottinghamshire (pictured below), in September, last year. 

The Shell Recharge facility, which is situated alongside the A1, offers a 400kW charge point with two connectors designed for HGVs that can be booked via a reservation system.

BP Pulse, meanwhile, revealed plans to transform Ashford International Truckstop in Kent – one of the largest truck stops in Europe – by installing mega-watt chargers for electric HGVs, in March last year.

The site, which has the capacity to host approximately 20 mega-watt chargers (MCS), 10 x 400kW and 125 x 100 kW chargers, is part of BP’s strategic drive to create a Europe-wide network of electric truck charging infrastructure.

The first mega-watt chargers are expected to be in place from 2026.

Funding worth £100 million was also announced in January to build multi-energy refuelling hubs for electric, hydrogen and other alternative fuelled vans and trucks.

Aegis Energy, which has received the cash from Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners, says it will deliver an initial five-station network, which will be completed by the end of 2027, with stations planned in Sheffield, Immingham, Warrington, Corby and Towcester. 

It plans to create a broader network of up to 30 hubs by the end of the decade. Each hub will have the capacity to charge/refuel more than 40 HGVs and 25-plus vans simultaneously. 

Elsewhere, the groundwork is being laid for the widespread use of electric heavy goods vehicles (eHGVs), with several fleets deploying the zero-emission trucks as part of Government trials.  

Electric Freightway is part of the Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator programme, funded by the Department for Transport (DfT) and delivered in partnership with Innovate UK.

AF Blakemore and Son is one of 33 consortium members taking part in the programme, which is being led by Gridserve, alongside principal partner Hitachi ZeroCarbon.

It took delivery of the first electric HGVs (pictured above) deployed by the Electric Freightway programme last year.

Significant barriers to uptake

The UK has signalled it will end the sale of all new, non-zero emission HGVs weighing up to 26 tonnes in 2035 – almost three quarters of the last year’s market.

However, the higher cost of production for zero-emission trucks means higher acquisition costs for operators – in addition to expensive depot infrastructure upgrades – posing significant barriers to uptake.

Fleet demand for zero emission trucks fell by 7.3% to just 217 units in 2024, with a 0.5% market share – the same as in 2023, according to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

Given the plug-in truck grant – available to fleet operators since 2016 – is set to end in a few weeks’ time, the SMMT says that an updated replacement that offers compelling incentives for all new zero emission HGV models, along with support for depot upgrades, is critical. 

Such support is available to a limited number of fleets taking part in the Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator programme this year. 

However, with results not expected until 2030 at the earliest, further measures are needed to grow uptake further, says the SMMT.