Food wholesaler Bidfood has begun electrifying its Slough depot using an overhead charging system supplied by DC fast charging manufacturer Kempower.
A total of four Kempower control units – charging dispensers designed for heavy-duty applications – have been installed using a cantilevered gantry paired with a Kempower cable arm so the plug can be accessed from above, eliminating the need for in-ground installations or site redesign.
The installation, carried out by Kempower’s sales and service partner Erinion, allows electric trucks to charge during loading stops in the depot’s existing docks, optimising the use of available space.
Kempower’s control units receive power dynamically from a single 600 kW power unit and can each deliver up to 160 kW of fast charging power.
This means e-trucks can be recharged during typical loading windows of between 45 minutes and two hours.
The set-up is the first at a Bidfood site, and the new infrastructure was added without disruption to operations or the loss of a single parking space.
A total of two e-trucks currently operate at Slough – including a new 18-tonne electric vehicle from Renault Trucks – and the charging bays represent a key milestone in Bidfood’s transition to incorporate more EVs into its fleet.
Gareth Sutcliffe, UK Sales Manager for Commercial Fleets at Kempower, said: “While the urgency for UK fleets to electrify is real, the practicalities of fitting a depot with charging infrastructure are an industry-wide challenge.
“Nevertheless, the overhead solution which conserves space and makes use of scheduled loading stops is becoming a tried and tested method that operators like Bidfood can continue to replicate.”
