Electric vehicle charging infrastructure specialist, Fleete, has announced that it has started construction on what is set to be one of the largest commercial vehicle charging hubs in the UK.
Located at the Port of Tilbury, the charging hub is designed specifically to serve commercial fleets, offering support to logistics operators transitioning to electric vehicles. Once complete, it will provide rapid charging capabilities for electric vans and trucks, helping to reduce emissions in one of the UK’s most strategically important transport corridors.
It is expected to fully operational later this year and will act as a shared-user charging hub for the 60-plus companies with commercial vehicle fleets registered as tenants at the port, including major hauliers and container transporters. It will also be available to HGV fleets operating around or passing through the ports.
The project forms part of Fleete’s nationwide strategy to deploy scalable, high-capacity EV infrastructure at key freight and logistics locations across the UK. The project is the first works funded by the UK government under the Thames Freeport seed capital programme, which advances clean energy technology crucial to the Port of Tilbury’s drive toward net-zero emissions.
Chris Morrison, Chief Investment Officer at Fleete, said: “This investment is a crucial step in building a net-zero logistics ecosystem and ensuring that the businesses in and around the Port of Tilbury have the resources they need to transition to cleaner transport alternatives.”
The site is being developed with a focus on high uptime, smart energy management, and future scalability. With the number of electric trucks and vans on UK roads growing steadily, the facility is expected to play a crucial role in enabling fleet operators to meet both operational needs and government-mandated emission targets.
The largest of the Thames ports, the Port of Tilbury is a key location for major transportation and logistics operations with an estimated 3,000-6,000 HGVs passing through the port each day. Fleete’s new EV Charging Hub promises to address these barriers to fleet electrification, providing a reliable, high-capacity charging solution.
It 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 four chargers via the Voltempo HyperCharging Megawatt Charging System funded through the eFREIGHT 2030 project.
Minister for Local Growth and Building Safety Alex Norris commented: “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 on our Plan for Change by securing economic growth and opportunities in the region for years to come.”
Peter Ward, Commercial Director at the Port of Tilbury and a member of the Thames Freeport board, said: “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: “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.”
