Powering the Future of Freight: Why High-Capacity eHGV Charging Hubs Are a Game-Changer
Nissan has unveiled a £1.4m charging station for electric heavy goods vehicles (eHGVs) at its Nissan Sunderland Plant.
By Brenda Shanahan at ZeroMission
There are moments in the evolution of transport where you can feel the shift happening in real time. The recent launch of the UK’s first private, shared high-capacity eHGV charging hub is exactly that moment, a visible, functioning symbol of how far we’ve come and how fast we’re now moving toward fully decarbonised logistics.
This new hub doesn’t just plug in trucks, it powers a new model of collaboration, resilience, and operational sustainability for freight operators across the country.
A First-of-Its-Kind Facility with Huge Impact
Let’s look at the facts: this £1.4 million site supports 25 trucks at a time, delivers up to 360kW per vehicle, and enables 60 eHGV deliveries every single day. That equates to over 2.4 million fully electric kilometres travelled annually, and crucially, over 1,500 tonnes of CO₂ emissions avoided each year.
That’s not a pilot scheme. That’s a serious logistics operation, one that’s already transforming the energy and emissions profile of a major industrial supply chain.
This is what progress looks like when infrastructure catches up with ambition.
And it couldn’t come at a more critical time.
Why This Charging Hub Matters So Much
Heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) make up only a fraction of the vehicles on our roads but account for a disproportionately high share of road transport emissions. Decarbonising this segment is essential, not optional, if we’re to meet our national and global climate targets.
But it’s also one of the hardest sectors to electrify. Weight, range, duty cycles, and infrastructure constraints have all historically slowed down progress in the HGV space. What this hub proves is that those barriers are beginning to fall, and that the freight sector has the will, and now the means, to go electric at scale.
Three things make this project especially significant:
It’s Shared:
This isn’t infrastructure for a single fleet. It’s a multi-operator charging ecosystem, enabling access for a range of logistics partners. That kind of shared model dramatically improves utilisation, return on investment, and scalability.It’s High-Powered:
We’re talking 360kW rapid charging, designed specifically for the demands of heavy-duty electric trucks. This is not a retrofitted passenger car solution. It’s purpose-built for freight.It’s Plugged Into the Bigger Picture:
This hub is part of a larger vision, one that integrates zero-emission transport with clean energy and battery manufacturing. It’s not a bolt-on solution. It’s a cornerstone of the long-term transition strategy.
From Depot to Distribution: Electrification That Works
At ZeroMission, we believe intelligent infrastructure is only as valuable as its ability to integrate into real-world operations. That’s why we support fleets not only with strategic insight but with practical, data-driven solutions that make electrification stick.
Whether it’s route optimisation for EV range, scheduling around charge cycles, or building a business case for infrastructure investment, we help operators transition confidently and incrementally, without disruption.
This charging hub embodies that approach: phased, scalable, collaborative, and deeply rooted in the operational realities of freight.
It’s a living case study of what works when industry, government, and innovators come together with a shared goal: accelerating the shift to clean freight.
What Comes Next?
The reality is this: the electrification of freight is no longer a far-off goal, it’s happening now. And with initiatives like the UK’s £200 million Zero Emission HGV programme supporting infrastructure development, the momentum is building fast.
We’re going to see more hubs like this. Bigger ones. Smarter ones. Integrated with solar, energy storage, and advanced fleet management systems. And those who move early will benefit first, not just environmentally, but operationally and financially.
This is about more than carbon reduction. It’s about future-proofing your fleet, building energy resilience, and meeting the demands of a rapidly changing logistics landscape.
Ready to Take the First Step?
We know that electrification can feel complex, especially for large, mixed-fuel fleets. But it doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
At ZeroMission, we specialise in helping fleets build custom infrastructure roadmaps, evaluate depot readiness, and plan EV rollouts that align with business needs, not just policy pressures.
If you’re wondering where to start, or how to scale, we’re here to help.
Let’s turn ambition into action.
Get in touch to talk about your depot’s potential or book a free consultation with one of our fleet experts.
