Fleete has started construction on what is set to become the UK’s largest commercial EV charging hub for heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) at the Port of Tilbury.
Backed by £1 million in government funding via the Thames Freeport programme, the 5MW shared-user hub will feature 16 rapid chargers — 12 Heliox (360kW) and 4 Voltempo megawatt units — for simultaneous large fleet charging.
Targeted for completion in December 2025, the hub aims to meet the needs of over 6,000 HGVs passing through Tilbury daily, addressing a critical barrier to zero-emission freight in one of the UK’s busiest multimodal ports.
The initiative is positioned along the high-traffic A13 corridor into London, providing clean energy access for port tenants and passing hauliers, with smart energy management ensuring capacity is fairly shared across users.
Peter Ward, Commercial Director at the Port of Tilbury, described the hub as “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.”
The charging hub is central to Tilbury and Thames Freeport’s decarbonisation plans, leveraging public-private funding to boost green transport, local growth, and job creation.
Fleete says the project, the first in its planned national network, will offer “a reliable, high-capacity charging solution” and play a critical role in enabling the logistics sector’s transition to low-carbon operations.
Recently, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) opened a new electric truck charging station at Port Newark, advancing its shift toward zero-emission drayage operations.
