VEV has delivered one of the UK’s largest heavy goods vehicle charging infrastructure deployments, installing 5MW of high-power capacity across three logistics hubs for Maritime Transport.
As one of the UK’s largest integrated road and rail freight operators, Maritime is striving to operate the cleanest full-load supply chain in the country, with high-capacity charging infrastructure forming the backbone of that long-term transition across its national depot network.
The project forms part of Maritime’s electric HGV rollout under its Maritime Zero division – an initiative designed to accelerate fleet electrification at scale and build a commercially viable pathway to zero-emission freight. Supported by the UK Government’s Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID) Programme, the rollout is helping to accelerate the deployment of high-capacity charging infrastructure across 13 of Maritime’s depots.
A total of 18 high-powered DC chargers have been installed by VEV across depots in Wakefield, Tilbury and Doncaster, with individual unit capacities ranging from 100kW to 400kW. The system has been designed to support up to 36 electric trucks charging simultaneously, providing the capacity required for heavy-duty freight operations.
The project marks a significant milestone in Maritime’s long-term decarbonisation strategy and demonstrates that large-scale electric HGV infrastructure can now be integrated into live high-intensity freight operations without disrupting day-to-day activity. Once fully operational, a total of 56 electric HGVs will be powered by green electricity and are each expected to travel approximately 120,000km per year.
Tom Williams, Deputy CEO at Maritime Transport, said: “We’ve got big ambitions on electrification, and this is a massive step forward from pilot phase into operational reality within our network. The infrastructure now in place gives us the capacity and confidence to expand our electric fleet as part of our long-term strategy to run the cleanest full-load supply chain in the UK.”
By investing in depot infrastructure now, Maritime is strengthening the foundations for fleet expansion across its national network. Delivered in strategic partnership with VEV, the rollout creates a scalable platform capable of supporting continued growth in zero-emission freight operations, with the installation designed to accommodate future expansion as fleet numbers increase and additional charging capacity is required.
VEV was responsible for the full design and delivery of the infrastructure, including site layout, power systems engineering, civil works, charger installation and integration with its smart charging and energy management platform, VEV IQ.
VEV IQ enables real-time visibility into charger and energy performance, automated load balancing, and optimised charging schedules to support operational uptime and efficient power use across the network.
Marcelo Soares, VP Customers and Partnerships at VEV, said: “Heavy freight is one of the most difficult sectors to decarbonise due to the scale of power required and the operational intensity of fleets. Delivering 5MW of charging capacity across live logistics depots shows that electric HGV infrastructure can now be deployed at a meaningful scale in the UK. This is not a pilot. It is real operational infrastructure.”
By combining high-capacity hardware with intelligent energy management, the project provides a practical blueprint for heavy freight operators seeking to transition from diesel without compromising operational performance.
