The United Kingdom has opened its first megawatt-scale charging hub for electric heavy goods vehicles (eHGVs), marking a major milestone in the decarbonisation of truck freight and the expansion of zero-emission logistics infrastructure. The facility at East Midlands Gateway is the first Megawatt Charging System-ready (MCS) depot charger to go live in the UK under the eFREIGHT 2030 programme.
The new site features six DC charging bays powered by a single megawatt-scale charging pod, capable of delivering up to 1 MW of power — enough to recharge future electric HGVs in less than 30 minutes. This high-power capability will initially support a fleet of about a dozen eHGVs operating regional, national and cross-border routes, providing real-world operational data on energy use, range and charging behaviour.
Developed by a consortium known as eFREIGHT 2030 and built using advanced HyperCharger technology, the hub is part of a government-backed effort to deploy dozens of similar megawatt-scale facilities across the country under the £200 million Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID) Programme. The project is funded by the Department for Transport and delivered with support from Innovate UK, aiming to accelerate electrification of heavy freight and support logistics fleet decarbonisation at scale.
Officials say the electrified charging hub will play a key role in helping freight operators transition away from diesel-powered trucks by providing ultra-fast, depot-based charging that aligns with fleet schedules and reduces downtime. Located at a major logistics node adjacent to key motorway links and an airport, the site’s strategic position will help demonstrate how high-power charging can support long-haul logistics operations in real-world conditions.
Investments like this reflect broader efforts to meet net-zero freight targets, bolster electric truck adoption and expand infrastructure that can accommodate the next generation of high-power electric and autonomous HGVs across the UK supply chain.
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