Work begins on UK’s largest commercial vehicle charging hub at Port of Tilbury

Charging solutions provider Fleete has started construction at the Port of Tilbury on what is expected to be the UK’s largest electric charging hub for commercial vehicles and a major logistics centre for London and the South East.

This initiative marks the first investment backed by the Government’s Thames Freeport seed capital programme. It underscores its commitment to advancing clean energy technologies essential for the Port of Tilbury’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions.

The £1 million funding awarded to Fleete is supporting the development of a 5-megawatt (MW) electric commercial vehicle charging station with 16 rapid chargers that can serve up to 16 electric heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) at once. With the facility due to open by the end of the year, the investment will accelerate the Port of Tilbury’s green energy transition, helping to improve air quality for local communities and supporting businesses to capitalise on new opportunities in sustainable transport, driving economic growth and job creation.

Serving as a vital ‘clean fuel’ charging point along the A13 corridor into London, the new facility will meet rising traffic demands from major developments within the Thames Freeport programme.

As the largest of the Thames ports, the Port of Tilbury is a key location for major transportation and logistics operations with over 10,000 vehicle movements at port every day. With over 60 companies with commercial vehicle fleets registered as tenants at the port, including major hauliers and container transporters, the demand for sustainable transport solutions is increasing, but is constrained by current infrastructure limitations, land availability and grid capacity.

Addressing these barriers Fleete’s new EV Charging Hub will feature:

• 12 ultra-fast chargers, each capable of delivering up to 360 kW of power, optimised for heavy goods vehicles and commercial fleets, supplied by Heliox; and 4 chargers via the Voltempo HyperCharging Megawatt Charging System funded through the eFREIGHT 2030 project.

• Fair and efficient sharing of grid capacity between Port of Tilbury tenants using intelligent energy management systems.

• Accessibility to EV charging for fleets operating in and passing through the Port of Tilbury area.

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.

Peter Ward, Commercial Director at the Port of Tilbury and a member of the Thames Freeport board, commented, “The Port of Tilbury EV Charging Hub will be a welcome addition to support the 6,000 HGVs that pass through the port every day, as we work to reduce the emissions impact of our customers’ operations.”

Thames Freeport CEO Martin Whiteley said, “We are thrilled to announce the launch of the largest commercial vehicle recharging hub in the Thames Freeport. This milestone underscores our commitment to driving innovation and sustainability in the logistics and transportation sectors. By providing state-of-the-art recharging infrastructure capable of supporting a significant volume of commercial vehicles, we are not only facilitating the transition to cleaner energy but also reinforcing Thames Freeport’s position as a leader in green growth and economic development. This hub is a testament to our vision of creating a future-ready, environmentally responsible logistics ecosystem.”

Minister for Local Growth and Building Safety Alex Norris added, “I am incredibly pleased to see the progress Fleete has made with the help of £1 million of capital funding from the Freeports programme. The new hub marks an important step forward for Thames Freeport’s vision of becoming a leader in green transport, and it will help us deliver economic growth and opportunities in the region for years to come.”