• • • BATTERIES & CHARGERS • • •


ACTEMIUM’S PERSPECTIVE ON


THE NEXT DECADE OF EV AND HGV CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE


BY EDITOR, CASEY PORTER


IN CONVERSATION WITH ANTHONY WILLIS, SECTOR MANAGER AT ACTEMIUM E-MOBILITY


S


ince installing 50kW DC chargers for the launch of the Nissan LEAF in 2011, Actemium has been at the forefront of the UK’s EV charging evolution. From early workplace AC units to today’s 350kW+ ultra-rapid motorway hubs, and now the UK’s first public electric HGV charging hub, the company has witnessed the sector transform at remarkable speed.


In a brief chat with Anthony, insights were shared on how charging technologies are advancing, the infrastructure challenges behind high-power deployment and how grid capacity, vehicle capability and site design will shape the next decade of electric mobility.


With Actemium’s long history in EV charging, from early AC workplace chargers to high-power motorway installations, how do you see the evolution of charging technologies shaping the industry in the next 5 to 10 years?


Actemium’s EV charging journey goes right back to 2011, when the Nissan LEAF launched as the world’s first mass-market EV. We were chosen to deploy charging infrastructure across all 165 Nissan dealerships in the UK, working with 50kW


DC equipment, which at the time felt incredibly advanced. Fast-forward 15 years, and installing 350kW+ chargers is now part of our everyday work.


Looking ahead, charging technology will continue to develop just as quickly as it has since those early days. In our view the real constraint won’t be the chargers themselves, but the vehicles, specifically how much power they can take and at what speed. As cars evolve, so will charging speeds, and our solutions for these.


The UK’s first public electric HGV charging hub recently went live with Actemium as the principal contractor. What unique challenges and opportunities do heavy-duty vehicle charging and integrated battery systems present compared to passenger EV charging? In terms of core technology, charging an electric truck isn’t all that different from charging a car, both typically use DC charging in the 150–350kW range. The real difference lies in the vehicle’s battery size. Trucks simply have much larger packs, so even at high power, charging naturally takes longer.


The biggest challenges for an e-HGV site are actually around layout and infrastructure: making sure there’s enough space for large vehicles to move safely, designing drive-through bays, reinforcing ground to cope with heavy loads and getting the safety markings right. And of course, securing enough grid capacity remains a challenge for both car and truck charging, the


connection costs can be significant and continue to be a major pressure point for developers of charging infrastructure.


How is the global push for higher-power charging (e.g., ultra-fast chargers) affecting battery development?


What is undeniable is that battery and vehicle technology has advanced at an incredible pace over the past 15 years, and that progress has made higher-power charging essential. You could argue the reverse too: that the move from 50kW to 350kW+ charging helped push battery innovation forward.


With battery chemistries, charging power levels and grid integration standards evolving so rapidly, how is this impacting Actemium?


Actemium’s role is to deliver full turnkey charging sites for charge point operators. Our clients specify the technology, and we handle deployment and energisation. Naturally, rising charger power levels and increasingly complex grid connections directly shape how we design and build these sites, and the requirements continue to evolve. Having been involved in the EV charging sector since 2011, we’ve built deep experience and keeping pace with developments remains a core part of how we operate.


https://www.actemium.co.uk


12 ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING • FEBRUARY 2026


electricalengineeringmagazine.co.uk


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