Fleete has unveiled the United Kingdom’s largest dedicated electric charging facility for commercial vehicles at the Port of Tilbury. This significant 5MW hub is equipped with 16 ultra-rapid chargers, capable of simultaneously powering up to 16 heavy goods vehicles (HGVs). It marks the inaugural site in Fleete’s ambitious plan for a national network of shared commercial vehicle charging locations.

The development was a collaborative effort involving the Port of Tilbury and Thames Freeport. Crucial financial support was provided by the UK government’s Thames Freeport Seed Capital Programme, which contributed £1 million, complemented by additional funding from the Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator Programme. This latter programme is administered by the Department for Transport in partnership with Innovate UK.

Strategically located at one of the nation’s busiest multimodal freight hubs, the facility is engineered to support zero-emission HGVs operating within and transiting the port, as well as those utilizing the A13 corridor into London. Furthermore, it will play a supporting role in the Lower Thames Crossing project, enabling major contractors to transition to electric vehicles and thereby reduce construction-related emissions.

At the core of the facility’s commercial value is Fleete’s shared-user model. By providing high-powered charging infrastructure on a shared-access basis, the hub effectively eliminates the need for individual fleet operators to bear the expense of depot upgrades or independently contend with grid capacity and land limitations. This approach directly addresses some of the most persistent structural challenges hindering the widespread adoption of electric fleets.

The inauguration of this facility is a key component of the Port of Tilbury’s comprehensive green energy transition strategy. The anticipated benefits are far-reaching, promising improvements in local air quality, the advancement of sustainable transport, and a boost to regional economic activity.

Fleete launches vehicle electric charging hub at port of Tilbury