One of the biggest barriers to electric HGV operations has been the lack of reliable charging on strategic routes. That is now being directly addressed.

BP Pulse and Moto have confirmed plans to roll out high-powered electric truck charging across major UK motorways, with the first sites expected to go live in 2026. Initial locations include Lymm, Toddington North and Toddington South — all critical points on the UK motorway network.

Each site will feature six pull-through charging bays equipped with megawatt charging system (MCS) technology, while remaining compatible with CCS standards. This means:

• No reversing or decoupling

• Charging designed specifically for articulated vehicles

• Ultra-fast charging that significantly reduces downtime

For fleet operators, motorway hubs with proper HGV design and amenities remove one of the biggest operational unknowns: where and how vehicles can reliably charge on long-haul routes.

Moto’s longer-term plan to install up to 300 electric HGV charging bays across 23 locations by 2030 further signals that motorway services are becoming a core part of the electric freight ecosystem.

How operating electric HGVs will become easier in 2026

For years, electric heavy goods vehicles (eHGVs) have been technically possible but operationally difficult. Limited public charging, depot constraints, long dwell times and uncertainty around standards have all slowed adoption.

There are positive signs that this picture is about to change.

By 2026, the UK will see a step-change in electric HGV infrastructure, driven by motorway-based public hubs, megawatt-scale depot charging and government-backed freight corridors. Together, these developments  are going to make running electric HGVs not just viable, but significantly easier for fleet operators.

Purpose-built public hubs for freight operators

Alongside motorway services, GRIDSERVE is building the UK’s first dedicated public eHGV charging network through its Electric Freightway programme.

Construction is already underway at Extra Baldock (A1(M), J10) and Moto Exeter (M5, J30), with the first hubs expected to be operational by the end of 2025. These sites are specifically engineered for freight operations rather than adapted from car charging infrastructure.

Key features will include:

• Four to eight ultra-rapid HGV charging bays per site

• Full drive-through layouts for articulated vehicles

• Swept-path planning to support safe manoeuvring

• Wider bays, clear signage and 24/7 security

Unlike standard EV hubs, these locations are designed to support throughput, safety and schedule reliability — all essential for commercial freight.

The Electric Freightway is delivered under the UK Government’s Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID) programme, providing operators with confidence that infrastructure development is aligned with national freight decarbonisation goals.

Megawatt depot charging comes online

While public charging is essential, depot infrastructure remains the backbone of electric HGV operations — and this is where megawatt-scale charging becomes a game changer.

In January 2026, the UK’s first megawatt-scale eHGV charging hub opened at East Midlands Gateway as part of the eFREIGHT 2030 project. Powered by Voltempo’s HyperCharger system, the site supports Kuehne+Nagel’s UK road operations and represents a major milestone for depot-based charging.

The system is capable of delivering up to one megawatt of power, allowing future eHGVs to charge in under 30 minutes. A single central HyperCharger intelligently distributes power across six DC charging bays, enabling flexible charging without excessive grid upgrades.

For operators, this model offers:

• Faster turnaround between shifts

• Better utilisation of vehicles

• Infrastructure that scales with future vehicle technology

Importantly, the site is already supporting real-world operations, with DAF XF Electric and Renault Trucks E-Tech vehicles collecting performance, range and total cost of ownership data under daily working conditions.

From pilot projects to operational scale

What links all these developments is a shift away from pilots and trials towards infrastructure designed for real freight operations.

By 2026, electric HGV charging in the UK will no longer be limited to isolated depots or experimental routes. Instead, operators will benefit from:

• Motorway-based megawatt charging

• Public freight-specific hubs on key corridors

• High-power depot charging integrated into logistics hubs

• Interoperable payment and charging standards across the UK and Europe

For fleets considering electrification, this reduces risk, improves route planning and makes total cost of ownership calculations more predictable.

A simpler path to electric freight

Electric HGVs are still a major transition — but infrastructure is quickly becoming less of a roadblock.

With motorway hubs from bp pulse and Moto, dedicated freight charging from GRIDSERVE, and megawatt-scale depot solutions from projects like eFREIGHT 2030, 2026 marks the point where electric HGV operations are starting to become genuinely practical.

For fleet operators, that means fewer compromises, clearer planning, and a far easier route to zero-emission road freight.

Sources:

https://www.bppulse.com/en-gb/going-electric/bp-pulse-and-moto-partner

https://www.gridserve.com/electric-hgv-charging-uk/

https://greenfleet.net/news/19012026/megawatt-scale-ehgv-charging-hub-opens-part-efreight-2030