What’s Opened and Where
The first megawatt-scale electric heavy goods vehicle (eHGV) charging hub in the UK has opened at Kuehne+Nagel’s East Midlands Gateway logistics facility in Leicestershire. This site is one of the UK’s biggest freight hubs — located next to the M1 motorway and close to East Midlands Airport — making it a strategic location for testing electric truck operations in real-world logistics. (Logistics Matters)
The hub was formally opened on 15 January 2026 and marks a big milestone in building charging infrastructure for zero-emission heavy freight. (Logistics Matters)
Charging Technology: Megawatt-Scale Power
This charging site is powered by Voltempo’s HyperCharger technology, which is:
- Megawatt-Charging System (MCS)-ready — capable of delivering up to 1 megawatt of charging power, far more than standard public fast chargers. (Logistics Matters)
- Designed to charge future electric HGVs in under ~30 minutes depending on the truck’s battery and specs. (theenergyst.com – Latest energy news)
- Built around a single megawatt HyperCharger pod that supplies six high-power DC charging bays. This setup dynamically allocates power across trucks based on need. (theenergyst.com – Latest energy news)
- Scalable — additional charging points can be added as fleet sizes and power requirements grow. (theenergyst.com – Latest energy news)
The chargers also support OCPP 2.0+ and Plug and Charge functionality for easy authentication and use. (North East Connected)
Supporting Real Electric Freight
Initially the hub will support around 12 electric HGVs as part of the government-backed eFREIGHT 2030 programme (an initiative under the Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID) Programme). Participating trucks include models from DAF Trucks and Renault Trucks, operating across regional, national and some international routes. (transportxtra.com)
These vehicles are collecting real-world data on things like energy use, charging patterns, range, and overall costs, which helps operators assess electric HGV viability at scale. (transportxtra.com)
Broader Rollout and Funding
- This is the first of a planned national rollout of megawatt-scale charging hubs — early plans mention up to 35 depot-based hubs across the UK under eFREIGHT 2030. (efreight2030.com)
- The programme is government-funded (£200m) and delivered in partnership with Innovate UK and the Department for Transport. (efreight2030.com)
- Partners include freight operators, vehicle manufacturers, and technology providers, aiming to build the backbone for zero-emission freight nationwide. (LinkedIn)
Why This Matters
Fast charging power: Megawatt-scale chargers mean electric trucks can recharge much quicker — closer to the turnaround times freight businesses need. (theenergyst.com – Latest energy news)
Decarbonisation: Heavy goods vehicles are among the most polluting road vehicles, so building this infrastructure helps cut emissions from freight. (Logistics Matters)
Real-world logistics testing: Using real fleets at a major logistics site allows industry and government to learn what works — before scaling up nationally. (transportxtra.com)
Here are some case studies, partner insights, and comments on the UK’s first megawatt-scale eHGV charging hub at East Midlands Gateway — part of the eFREIGHT 2030 initiative and a milestone for decarbonising heavy freight: (Logistics Matters)
1. Kuehne+Nagel’s Operational Case
What’s being tested:
- The charging hub is supporting Kuehne+Nagel’s UK road logistics operations by charging up to 12 electric HGVs (eHGVs) from manufacturers like DAF and Renault Trucks. These trucks run on regional, national and international routes, allowing the project to gather real-world data on battery behaviour, energy use, range, charging cycles, and total cost of operation. (transportxtra.com)
Why this matters:
- This is one of the first large-scale depot electrification experiments in the UK freight industry — gaining insights into how eHGVs perform in everyday logistics scenarios rather than just prototypes or small pilots. (transportxtra.com)
2. Data & Learning From Real Fleet Use
Performance insights:
- Each eHGV operating from the hub is contributing performance and efficiency data back into the eFREIGHT 2030 programme. This includes:
- Energy consumption patterns
- Range outcomes after charging cycles
- Charging behaviour at megawatt power levels
- Operational turnaround times and reliability
- Cost metrics compared with diesel HGVs
These data points help industry partners refine business cases for electrifying heavy logistics and plan future infrastructure needs. (transportxtra.com)
3. Industry & Partner Comments
Kate Broome — Kuehne+Nagel
“As part of eFREIGHT 2030, we’re proud to be working with partners like Voltempo and their innovative technology, alongside vehicle manufacturers DAF and Renault Trucks, to open the first charging hub at our site — a real milestone made possible through collaboration across industry.” (Logistics Matters)
This highlights the importance of cross-industry collaboration — showing that freight operators, infrastructure providers, and OEMs are working together rather than in isolated pilots.
Simon Smith — CEO, Voltempo
“This first deployment of Voltempo’s HyperCharger at Kuehne+Nagel’s depot is a significant milestone for zero-emission freight… ready for the next generation of higher-power electric and autonomous HGVs tomorrow.” (transportxtra.com)
Voltempo’s comment underscores the future-proofing aspect: deploying infrastructure that can support emerging truck technologies and higher power needs.
Alistair Barnes — Senior Programme Manager, Innovate UK
“Voltempo’s state-of-the-art HyperCharger is enabling eFREIGHT 2030 to meet the sustainable haulage demands of today and tomorrow… accelerating the transition to zero-emission freight and driving the UK’s clean growth ambitions forward.” (North East Connected)
This comment reflects the policy and strategic importance of the project: it isn’t just a one-off pilot, but a strategic step in the UK government’s ZEHID programme to drive broader freight decarbonisation. (North East Connected)
Key Takeaways
Real-World Testing at Scale
The East Midlands Gateway hub isn’t a concept — it’s being used in live freight operations to collect data that will directly influence future deployments and business models. (transportxtra.com)
Cross-Sector Collaboration
Logistics provider Kuehne+Nagel, infrastructure developer Voltempo, vehicle OEMs, Innovate UK and government agencies all contribute expertise — showing that multi-partner engagement is vital for heavy freight electrification. (Logistics Matters)
Policy & Innovation Driven
The project sits under the £200 m Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID) Programme, aiming for up to 35 hub installations nationally by 2030 to support decarbonised freight. (Logistics Matters)