GRIDSERVE has opened two public electric HGV (eHGV) charging hubs at motorway service areas in England, providing shared charging infrastructure designed specifically for battery-electric trucks.
The new hubs are located at Extra Baldock, at junction 10 of the A1(M), and Moto Exeter, at junction 30 of the M5. According to GRIDSERVE, these are the UK’s first public eHGV charging hubs delivered as part of the Electric Freightway programme.
The Electric Freightway is one of four projects funded under the Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID) programme, supported by the Department for Transport and delivered in partnership with Innovate UK. The programme aims to accelerate the deployment of zero-emission HGVs and the infrastructure required to operate them at scale.
Extra Baldock has opened with six dedicated eHGV charging bays, while Moto Exeter offers four. All bays are designed as drive-through lanes to accommodate articulated vehicles and high-capacity loads, enabling trucks to charge without uncoupling trailers. Chargers are installed on both sides of each bay to account for variations in vehicle charging-port locations.
GRIDSERVE said the sites have been designed following swept-path analysis to ensure safe vehicle manoeuvring. Additional features include custom signage adapted to the higher HGV driving position, as well as wide walkways, lighting, sensors and CCTV to improve safety for drivers moving between vehicles, chargers and service-area facilities.
The Electric Freightway consortium brings together around 25 UK hauliers and truck manufacturers. Prior to the opening of the public hubs, the programme focused on the delivery of ultra-rapid charging depots at private sites, including industrial locations such as manufacturing plants. The Baldock and Exeter hubs are the first of seven public eHGV charging locations scheduled to open in 2026.
Heavy goods vehicles account for around 1% of licensed road vehicles in the UK but contribute a disproportionate share of emissions. According to government figures cited in the ZEHID programme, HGVs are responsible for around 16% of domestic transport greenhouse gas emissions and approximately 5% of nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions.
Daniel Kunkel, chief executive of GRIDSERVE, said the opening of the hubs demonstrated that electric freight transport is now operational beyond pilot projects and controlled environments.
To mark the opening of the first public Electric Freightway hubs, a battery-electric DAF XF Electric truck completed a motorway journey from Moto Exeter to Extra Baldock. The vehicle, which holds the 2026 International Truck of the Year title, operated under real-world motorway conditions. The opening event was attended by representatives from the Electric Freightway consortium, the Department for Transport and Innovate UK.
Neale Ryan, head of land and maritime transport at Innovate UK, said the project demonstrated how collaboration between government and industry could support the deployment of zero-emission freight infrastructure at scale.
The opening of the hubs comes as the UK government moves forward with plans to phase out the sale of new non-zero-emission heavy goods vehicles up to and including 26 tonnes by 2035, and all new non-zero-emission HGVs by 2040.
Further public eHGV charging hubs under the Electric Freightway programme are planned to open later this year at Tamworth, Thurrock, Leeds, Chester and Strensham North, according to GRIDSERVE.
