IN Brief:
- amphos has delivered a megawatt charging hub for Russell Group’s electric HGV operations in Coatbridge, Scotland.
- EZO has secured a £176m, 15-year contract covering EV charging infrastructure across four Midlands councils.
- The developments combine fleet charging, public infrastructure, high-power DC systems, and long-term installation and operation models.
amphos has delivered a megawatt charging hub for Russell Group at Coatbridge in Scotland, adding high-power fleet charging capacity for electric heavy goods vehicle operations.
The hub came online in May using CCS charging, with megawatt charging system upgrades planned from July. The upgrade is expected to reduce charging times to around 20 minutes for suitable vehicles. The installation supports Russell Group’s new 4×2 electric tractor units for 42-tonne loads and uses Vestel Mobility equipment capable of delivering up to 3.75MW DC.
The site includes two 720kW double-port chargers and one 1.2MW double-port charger. amphos led design and delivery of the project as independent connection provider, covering a scope that links charging equipment, grid connection, site design, and commissioning. The Coatbridge installation is described as one of the first UK locations capable of megawatt charging speeds.
Alongside the Scottish fleet project, EZO has secured a £176m, 15-year contract across Worcestershire, Leicestershire, Rutland, and Warwickshire. The programme covers the installation of 250 chargers and follows EZO’s earlier long-term charging contract in northern Scotland. The Midlands project sits within a wider public charging framework intended to support tens of thousands of chargers by 2030.
Other UK charging developments in the same cycle include Greenwheel’s planned solar-powered EV charging hub at Hunterston and Believ’s programme to install 200 chargers in Telford and Wrekin. The market is splitting into several distinct infrastructure types: high-power fleet charging, public destination charging, on-street residential charging, and renewable-linked charging hubs.
Heavy-duty charging is also beginning to converge with grid services and energy management. Scania’s bidirectional megawatt truck charging demonstration showed how future depot systems could move beyond one-way vehicle charging and into controlled power exchange between trucks, depots, and the grid.
Megawatt charging changes the electrical design assumptions around vehicle depots and logistics sites. Power levels once associated with industrial process loads are now being introduced into transport facilities, requiring careful assessment of grid capacity, transformer sizing, low-voltage and high-voltage distribution, protection coordination, harmonic performance, cable routes, thermal management, and operational scheduling.
Fleet charging differs sharply from public rapid charging. Vehicles return to known locations, dwell times can be managed, and charging profiles can be planned around shift patterns, route lengths, and depot operations. That allows infrastructure to be designed with more predictable load management, although peak demand can still be substantial where multiple heavy vehicles charge in parallel.
The independent connection provider role is becoming more central as charging power rises. Projects require coordination between the charge point operator, site owner, distribution network operator, equipment supplier, civil contractor, and electrical contractor. Connection lead times, substation availability, reinforcement requirements, and energisation processes can determine whether a project moves on schedule.
Public-sector charging contracts are developing along a different commercial path. Long-term concession models allow councils to expand charging networks without carrying the full upfront capital cost, while operators recover investment through utilisation over time. The electrical challenge is distributed rather than concentrated: many smaller sites, varied local network conditions, and ongoing maintenance across a wide geography.
The next phase of UK charging deployment will depend on matching charger power to use case. Megawatt systems suit heavy-duty vehicles with high daily energy demand. Lower-power AC and DC systems remain essential for streets, workplaces, and destinations. Solar-linked hubs may reduce grid import at specific times, but they still require robust connection and control design.
Further information on amphos fleet electrification services is available from amphos.
