Nissan Unveils UK’s First Shared Electric Truck Charging Hub in Sunderland

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A landmark electric vehicle (EV) charging station has opened at Nissan’s Sunderland manufacturing site, marking a significant step forward in decarbonising UK logistics. The £1.4 million facility is the first privately operated, shared electric heavy goods vehicle (eHGV) charging hub in the country and is expected to reduce carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions by around 1,500 tonnes per year.

Located at the heart of Nissan’s operations, the new station is designed to support 60 eHGV deliveries daily. It is part of Nissan’s wider EV36Zero strategy, a programme combining electric vehicle production, renewable energy, and battery manufacturing to create a low-carbon automotive ecosystem. The project falls under the Electric Freightway consortium, a collaboration between Nissan, clean energy firm GRIDSERVE, and logistics partners Fergusons, Yusen, and BCA, aimed at speeding up the adoption of electric freight transport.

Michael Simpson, Vice President of Supply Chain Management at Nissan AMIEO (Africa, Middle East, India, Europe, and Oceania), praised the initiative: “It is fantastic for our plant to be leading the charge to an electrified supply chain with this project. We’re proud of what we’ve achieved, and the charging station is a major milestone in our journey toward sustainable logistics.”

The charging infrastructure supports a fleet of 25 trucks with a power output of up to 360kW. These vehicles will transport automotive parts from suppliers across the UK, including as far as Derby, and deliver finished vehicles to and from the Port of Tyne. This operation amounts to more than 2.4 million fully electric kilometres travelled annually, contributing to substantial emissions savings.

Mr Simpson added that Nissan is actively exploring how to extend access to the site, noting: “We’re looking at ways to allow other hauliers to benefit from this infrastructure, and we’ll continue to seek new opportunities to maximise its potential.”

Daniel Kunkel, Chief Executive Officer of GRIDSERVE, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the importance of industry cooperation. “Depot charging is critical for electrifying HGVs. As the first shared usage site, this station is setting a new standard for sustainable freight logistics,” he said.

Government support has played a role in facilitating such developments. Speaking on the broader push for net-zero transport, Lilian Greenwood, Minister for the Future of Roads, commented: “We’re working closely with the freight sector to cut emissions. Our £200 million zero-emission HGV programme is supporting businesses like Nissan, creating high-quality jobs and delivering on our long-term Plan for Change.”

While some may see these developments as incremental, they reflect growing private-sector leadership in delivering practical, infrastructure-based solutions to environmental targets. Rather than top-down mandates, it’s partnerships like these, driven by innovation, investment, and commercial necessity, that are laying the groundwork for a more sustainable industrial base.

The Sunderland site’s shared-use model also raises the possibility of scalable logistics hubs across the UK, fostering greater resilience in supply chains while enhancing the country’s energy transition in transportation. As electrification moves beyond consumer cars into freight and logistics, such initiatives represent a promising template for future development.