Fleete Breaks Ground on HGV Charging Hub at Port of Tilbury

Fleete has officially broken ground on what is set to become the UK's largest electric vehicle charging hub for commercial vehicles, strategically located at the Port of Tilbury. The flagship project marks a significant step forward in fleet electrification and cleaner logistics, backed by a ?1 million investment from Thames Freeport's seed capital fund and further private funding from Fleete. Due for completion in December 2025, the site will feature 16 rapid charging bays powered by 5MW of electricity, including 12 ultra-fast chargers from Heliox and four additional megawatt-capable units funded by the government's eFREIGHT 2030 programme.

Chris Morrison, CEO of Fleete, called the project "a crucial step in building a net-zero logistics ecosystem" and the first of several hubs the company plans to roll out across the UK. "This is more than infrastructure," he said. "It's a long-term investment model that gives operators the tools to transition without shouldering all the cost and complexity." The initiative is designed with heavy goods vehicle (HGV) operators in mind, particularly those based in or passing through the Port of Tilbury, which sees more than 10,000 vehicle movements daily. "There are over 60 fleet-operating companies here. The demand for accessible, high-power EV charging is not just rising, it's urgent," said Shaun Wood, Senior Asset Manager at the Port of Tilbury.

The hub addresses three key challenges to HGV electrification: land availability, power grid constraints, and capital investment. According to Morrison, "Fleete takes on the infrastructure risk. Operators sign up based on their power needs.

The more they commit to, the lower their rates per kilowatt-hour." Backing from Thames Freeport played a vital role. "We're using government funds to unlock five times that amount in private investment," said Martin Whiteley, CEO of Thames Freeport. "This is exactly the kind of innovation we want to see, delivering commercial outcomes and public value through decarbonisation". Dutch-founded Heliox, now operating under Siemens, is supplying the 360kW-capable hardware. "We've customised our offering for Tilbury, giving Fleete a scalable system that meets today's needs and tomorrow's demands," said Paul Middlemiss, Head of Sales UK & Ireland for Heliox.

The hub is also built for future growth. While the initial configuration includes 16 bays, the layout and cabling leave room for further power upgrades as HGVs evolve. Today, most electric trucks don't need a full megawatt.

But when they do, the infrastructure here will be ready," Middlemiss explained. The project was formally launched with a ceremonial "Breaking Ground" event, attended by key stakeholders including the Mayor of Thurrock, Thames Freeport, Port of Tilbury and Heliox. As Morrison noted, "We're not just building a charging hub--we're laying the groundwork for a new chapter in sustainable logistics."

"This is how you unlock electrification at scale"

Chris Morrison, CEO, Fleete

For Chris Morrison, Fleete's CEO, the breaking ground at Tilbury marks more than a milestone. "This site is a blueprint for what's possible when public and private sectors collaborate with purpose," he said. As a founding member of Fleete, established by Macquarie Asset Management's Green Investments team in 2022, Morrison has overseen the company's transition from concept to construction. Tilbury is Fleete's first operational site, but not its last. "We've identified seven further sites, all with grid connections secured.

We're pushing to start construction on those in 2026. Each will be between two and nine megawatts, designed to match HGV traffic patterns and major logistics corridors." Morrison describes Fleete's core model as "charging-as-a-service", shared infrastructure that eliminates the need for operators to shoulder the full burden of depot electrification. "Rather than asking companies to invest millions in private depots that may not get fully utilised, we offer access to scalable hubs with pricing flexibility.

Operators can drop in and pay per use, or secure a contract with committed volumes to get the lowest rates." That model, he says, reflects the real-world operating conditions of HGV fleets. Unlike buses, which return to depots overnight, trucks often operate around the clock.

Our customers need reliable access to charging when and where it fits their schedule, not just when a depot slot opens up." Morrison also sees Fleete playing a bigger role in network planning. "Many logistics operators now ask us to locate charging where they already move goods, Tilbury to Hams Hall, Trafford Park, South London. We're not just building infrastructure; we're helping shape how zero-emission freight will function across the country."

He believes public funding should continue to play a catalytic role. "The ?1 million from Thames Freeport unlocked a ?6 million project. That kind of leverage is a great return on public investment. With recent government announcements promising ?30 million for truck charging, there's a real opportunity to scale this model."

For Morrison, success will mean that electric HGVs become the default. "In ten years, it will be hard to find a diesel truck on the road. Our job is to make sure the infrastructure's there to support that transition."

"Engineered for trucks--and engineered for change"

Paul Middlemiss, Head of Sales UK & Ireland, Heliox Heliox, now operating under Siemens, is a key hardware partner for the Tilbury charging hub.

Its role in the project goes far beyond supplying chargers. "We don't just sell equipment," said Paul Middlemiss, Head of Sales UK & Ireland. "We partner with clients to tailor solutions based on real-world usage. With Fleete, we were involved from day one, advising on site layout, power availability, and future-proofing."

The site is equipped with eight dual-head chargers, each block capable of delivering up to 540kW. "That's over a megawatt per island," Middlemiss noted. "But what makes this special is the upgradeability. As truck technology advances and higher power becomes the norm, Fleete won't have to rebuild. We've designed for scalability from the start."

One of Heliox's strengths, according to Middlemiss, is experience with challenging environments. "We cut our teeth electrifying 100-year-old bus depots across Europe. That's made us agile. Tilbury's a complex site, with high power demands and industrial constraints--but that's our sweet spot."

Support doesn't end at installation. Heliox also maintains the hardware under a long-term service agreement. "Over 70% of issues can be resolved remotely. However, if anything does go wrong, our team is available to provide diagnostics, software patches, and service engineers.

We don't just hand over a box and walk away." Middlemiss views shared charging hubs as a logical next step for truck operators. "Fleet electrification isn't just about buying trucks, it's about making the business case work. Building private infrastructure is expensive and often underused.

Shared networks like Fleete's help spread that cost and maximise utilisation."

With Tilbury as the launchpad, Heliox and Fleete are already working on additional projects. "We've got around seven other sites in the pipeline together," he confirmed. "For us, it's all about enabling clean transport, not in 10 years, but now."