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Building work has started at two of the seven proposed public eHGV charging locations in Gridserve’s Electric Freightway programme.

The firm’s first eHGV charging hubs at Extra Baldock, on J10 of the A1(M), and Moto Exeter, at J30 of the M5, are due to open in December.

These services station locations, which are on key logistics routes, will feature between four and eight high power charging bays, each designed as drive-through bays that enable all models to plug in, regardless of charging port location.

New safety markings and signage will be installed to account for the high driving position.

In addition, wide walkways, lighting, sensors and CCTV are all being considered to ensure drivers can safely walk between vehicles, chargers and the service area facilities.

The Electric Freightway is funded in part through the UK Government’s Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID) programme, and delivered in partnership with Innovate UK.

Gridserve was founded in 2017 to develop, own and operate critical infrastructure for sustainable energy production, and it opened the UK’s first all-electric car charging forecourt in 2020, with the second opening in 2022.

Keir Mather, Minister for Aviation, Maritime, and Decarbonisation, said: “This is a major step towards making electric HGVs a practical choice for hauliers everywhere.

“With charging hubs in the right places, the industry can drive towards a zero-emission future with confidence.

“Our £200 million programme is delivering over 360 bays across the UK and combined with £30 million to support HGV, van and coach operators install chargers at their depots, we’re backing businesses to cut their emissions and supporting cleaner, greener supply chains.”