London, UK: Gridserve is leading a government-backed consortium to develop a new network of charging sites for electric HGVs at motorway service areas, truck stops and depots.
Gridserve calls the project Electric Freightway. The Department for Transport and Innovate UK call it the Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator programme. The Electric Freightway project, which consists of 33 partner and member companies, will get additional funding from the Department for Transport and Innovate UK.
In the initial two-year long procurement phase HGV charging hubs will be installed at motorway services areas and truck stops. The scheme also includes more than 10 commercial depot charging locations for HGVs. More than 200 chargers capable of delivering 350kW will be installed, and there will be an initial trial of two 1-megawatt-capacity chargers. About 140 HGVs will initially be brought into fleets by UK-based companies to use the new network.
Data collection will run for five years to collate insights into the electrification of HGVs.
Sam Clarke, chief vehicle officer, Gridserve, said: “There will be a lot to learn along the way but whilst this is just the beginning, the ambition will be to ensure this opportunity acts as a catalyst for continued uptake of electric heavy goods vehicles and more broadly, commercial vehicle electrification now, and long into the future.”
