TILBURY will soon play host to what is believed to be the UK's largest dedicated charging facility for electric HGVs and commercial fleets.

Stakeholders and industry leaders, including Mayor of Thurrock, Cllr Sue Shinnick, gathered on site this week to witness the ceremonial first dig and plaque unveiling, recognising the public-private partnership behind a charging hub at the Poort of Tilbury.

Fleete's 5 MW shared user charging hub, funded in part with £1 million from the UK government under the Thames Freeport seed capital programme, is the first in its a growing network of commercial charging sites strategically placed along high-demand freight and logistics routes.

Scheduled to go live in December the hub will offer 16 rapid chargers for simultaneous use.

"Breaking ground at Port of Tilbury is more than a construction milestone, it's a clear demonstration of how government seed funding capital can crowd-in multiples more funds from private capital to build the sustainable infrastructure the UK needs," said Chris Morrison, Chief Executive Officer, Fleete.

"Working together with the Port of Tilbury and Thames Freeport, this high-capacity shared user hub directly tackles some of the key barriers to fleet electrification, and we are delighted to see it coming to life."

From left: Chris Morrison – CEO, Fleete; Mayor Cllr Sue Shinnick and Martin Whiteley – CEO, Thames Freeport.

Minister for Local Growth and Building Safety, Alex Norris said: "I am excited to hear that spades are getting in the ground at Port Tilbury with the help of funding from the Freeports programme.

 "This pioneering EV hub will be a vital asset to Thames Freeport that is becoming one of the UK's leaders in green transport innovation, a wonderful example of boosting local growth and job opportunities across the nation as promised in our Plan for Change."

Thames Freeport CEO, Martin Whiteley, said: "This is a strong example of what Freeports were created to do - unlock investment, accelerate innovation, and deliver infrastructure that supports both economic and environmental goals.

"Fleete's shared user commercial vehicle charging hub is exactly the kind of high-impact project that helps futureproof the UK's logistics network. We're proud to play our part in making zero-emission freight a reality at Port of Tilbury."

Shaun Wood, Senior Asset Manager, Port of Tilbury, added: "Breaking ground on this hub marks an important turning point in how we support the future of freight at Port of Tilbury. As the volume of goods moving through the port continues to grow, so too does the need for smart, sustainable infrastructure.

"This partnership with Fleete ensures we are not only meeting the operational demands of today's logistics sector, but actively preparing for the zero-emission supply chains of tomorrow."