Welsh freight forwarding specialist FSEW has agreed a strategic partnership with EV fleet and battery storage specialist Zenobe, advancing work on its new electric truck charging hub.

The Low Carbon Freight Hub is being developed in Cardiff, Wales, and will primarily be FSEW’s hub but with potential availability for commercial third-party charging in the future.

Zenobe has been appointed as charging infrastructure partner for this project, marking its first truck charging infrastructure project in the UK and drawing on its bus fleet electrification expertise.

The hub will be the first in Wales to be powered entirely by renewable energy sources and one of the UK’s first low-carbon freight hubs.

Zenobe will install four 400kW DC chargers, with the option to expand into the 2.5-acre open access hub that was recently granted planning permission.

The infrastructure will utilise Zenobe’s smart charging software to dynamically manage and balance power across the site and keep charging costs down for the operator.

Zenobe will finance the infrastructure through a charging services agreement to FSEW, helping the firm avoid the potential upfront cost.

The charging infrastructure will support four new 37-tonne electric trucks ordered from Volvo Trucks UK, strengthening FSEW’s fleet of fully electric trucks to five. A further order has been placed with Mercedes-Benz Trucks UK for the delivery of five eActros 600 tractor units due for delivery this month. Zenobe will lead on integrating the new vehicles into the hub.

Steven Meersman, co-founder director at Zenobe said: “FSEW’s Low Carbon Freight Hub will be a flagship site for fleet operators here in Wales and we are looking forward to working with them on this significant project. We share their vision to provide end-to-end decarbonisation solutions for transport operators. Wales has set ambitious carbon reduction targets, and we are excited to work with one of the leading Welsh businesses in the low-carbon space to work towards achieving this.”

Geoff Tomlinson, managing director at FSEW, said: “This is an exciting and pivotal moment in our plans to create the UK’s first low-carbon freight hub by January 2026 and we’re looking forward to working with Zenobe. Having the right partner that knows what they are talking about is crucial and they’ve impressed us with their expertise and track record of success as a leading battery storage and fleet electrification specialist.”