UK: Electric Freightway launches with first public eHGV hubs

Gridserve has opened the UK’s first public, turn-up-and-charge electric truck hubs at Extra Baldock and Moto Exeter. The sites mark the start of the company's Electric Freightway, a nationwide network to support zero-emission freight operations.

Gridserve electric freightway uk charging stations electric trucks moto exeter — Image: Gridserve

The new sites at Extra Baldock, located at Junction 10 of the A1(M), and Moto Exeter, at Junction 30 of the M5, are now operational and available for use by all hauliers. Extra Baldock opens with six dedicated eHGV charging bays, while Moto Exeter launches with four. Both hubs have been designed specifically for heavy goods vehicles, featuring drive-through bays suitable for different vehicle layouts and charge port positions, custom signage for higher cab heights, and new safety markings.

Gridserve said swept-path analysis was undertaken to ensure safe manoeuvring, while lighting, sensors, CCTV and wide walkways were incorporated to support driver safety. Construction of both hubs had kicked off in October 2025.

With Moto Exeter and Extra Baldock now operational, Gridserve plans to open further public eHGV charging sites later this year at Tamworth, Thurrock, Leeds, Chester and Strensham North. To mark the opening of the first public hubs and demonstrate long-distance zero-emission haulage, a DAF XF Electric completed the approximately 200-mile journey between Moto Exeter and Extra Baldock using the newly opened infrastructure.

The Electric Freightway is funded by the Department for Transport’s Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID). The programme brings together a consortium of 25 UK hauliers and truck manufacturers to support the deployment of zero-emission heavy goods vehicles and the infrastructure required to operate them at scale.

“The Electric Freightway shows that zero emission freight is no longer a future ambition but a live, operational reality. With the help of our consortium partners, we’re now proving that electric HGVs can run real routes at real scale, using shared public infrastructure,” said Daniel Kunkel, Chief Executive Officer of Gridserve. “Over the last five years, the Electric Highway has provided a super-fast and reliable nationwide charging network for electric passenger cars, giving drivers the confidence to make the switch to electric. We hope the Electric Freightway can give fleet managers of the freight sector the same level of confidence.”

Neale Ryan, Head of Land and Maritime Transport at Innovate UK, added: “The Electric Freightway exemplifies how public-private collaboration can accelerate innovation and infrastructure deployment.”

Keir Mather, Minister for Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation, concluded: “Our £120 million investment for zero emission HGVs and infrastructure is putting cleaner haulage firmly into the fast lane, and these first-of-their-kind hubs will give businesses the confidence to go electric.”