Nissan electrifies supply chain with electric truck charging station

The £1.4m facility has seven charging stations and will support 60 UK eHGV deliveries to the plant daily.

The trucks using the charging station will collect parts from Nissan’s UK supply base, stretching as far afield as Derby; as well as delivering finished vehicles to and from the Port of Tyne. 

Nissan estimates more than 2.4 million fully electric kilometers will be travelled per year, saving 1,500 tonnes of CO2 annually.

The manufacturer said the project is a first in the UK automotive industry, establishing an electric, end-to-end supply chain that transports materials into the Nissan plant and delivers finished vehicles out.

The project is the first on-site, private shared charging station of its kind in the UK, Nissan added.

The facility complements the plant’s EV36Zero vision for sustainable manufacturing, bringing together electric vehicles, renewable energy and battery production.

Michael Simpson, Nissan AMIEO vice president of supply chain management, said; “It is fantastic for our plant to be leading the charge to an electrified supply chain with this project.

“We welcome the support we’ve received from our partners to bring the charging station to life and we’re proud of what we have achieved.

“The charging station looks brilliant and is a big step forward in Nissan’s EV360 vision, which brings together electric vehicles. zero carbon energy and battery manufacturing.”

Simpson added: “We’re exploring further opportunities to allow other hauliers to use the charging station as well as looking at other opportunities to maximise its full potential.”

Bringing together Nissan, Fergusons, Yusen and BCA, the project is part of the Electric Freightway consortium that is transforming sustainable freight logistics through deployment of eHGVs and high-power charging infrastructure.

Led by Gridserve, Electric Freightway forms part of the Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator programme, funded by the UK Government and delivered in partnership with Innovate UK.

UK Government Minister for the Future of Roads Lilian Greenwood said: “We’re working closely with the road freight sector to slash transport emissions, and our £200m zero emission HGV programme is helping businesses across the country to power the electrification of its fleets.

“It’s great to see Nissan taking advantage of our scheme which is supporting high paid jobs and putting money in the pockets of working people – all part of delivering our Plan for Change.’

Daniel Kunkel, Gridserve chief executivesaid; “The decarbonisation of transport logistics is much stronger and reaches far wider when done in partnership.

“This is why, as leaders of the Electric Freightway consortium, we are so pleased to support this UK first with Nissan and their haulage partners.

“Depot charging is critical for the electrification of HGVs, going hand in hand with future public infrastructure developments.

“As a first shared usage site, this location is leading the way in sustainable freight logistics.”