A dedicated electric truck charging hub with 32 fast-charging connectors has opened at the Magna Park logistics site in the UK. Finnish charging hardware manufacturer Kempower supplied the DC technology for the site, which delivers charging power of up to 400 kW per bay to support commercial freight operators.
Key points
- Magna Park has opened a public charging facility for heavy electric vehicles with 32 high-power connectors.
- Kempower supplied the charging systems, which supply power outputs up to 400 kW.
- Site operators plan to expand the facility to roughly 200 connectors in future development phases.
The Magna Park facility
The installation provides dedicated public access for heavy goods vehicles travelling through one of the UK’s primary logistics hubs. Delivering up to 400 kW per connector, the DC systems provide sufficient power to charge long-haul haulage vehicles during mandatory driver rest periods.
Kempower’s hardware uses dynamic power distribution, splitting electrical capacity between connected vehicles based on real-time vehicle demand and battery condition. The design allows trucks to plug in simultaneously without locking each dispenser to an inflexible share of the site’s total grid supply.
Scaling up commercial freight charging
The initial 32 connectors represent the first stage of development for the charging park. According to project plans, the location will expand to host around 200 connectors as transport companies add more electric trucks to their regional and national routes.
Fleet operators shifting away from diesel face strict delivery timetables and heavy battery requirements. Unlike passenger cars, heavy electric lorries carry battery packs ranging from 300 kWh to more than 600 kWh. Turnaround times require high-output DC charging equipment placed directly along freight routes rather than away from major motorways.
Providing dedicated bays for heavy commercial vehicles also solves practical access issues. Standard motorway service plazas rarely offer the physical space or turning radiuses required for 40-tonne articulated lorries to reach charging dispensers.
Grid connection and industrial sites
High-power commercial transport hubs place intense demands on local electrical substations. Running dozens of 400 kW chargers at peak times requires substantial megawatts of grid capacity, demanding close coordination between site managers, hardware suppliers, and distribution network operators.
Wider industrial policy has started focusing on these power constraints. Programmes such as the Strategic Sites Accelerator for UK hubs seek to reduce grid connection bottlenecks and prepare strategic employment land for advanced logistics requirements.
What happens next
The Magna Park facility will begin handling commercial haulage traffic immediately while operators monitor site utilisation and power draw. The timeline for expanding from the initial 32 chargers to the planned 200 connectors will depend on commercial fleet adoption rates and local grid reinforcements.
