Grid capacity for HGV depots: how much power, really?
Truck depots can need several times the power of a van depot. Here's how to think about the connection — and how to keep it manageable.
Last updated 15 August 2026
The grid connection is usually the defining challenge of an HGV depot, because the power involved is on a different scale from lighter fleets. Getting a realistic early read is essential.
Why the numbers are large
Big batteries and tight schedules mean high power. A yard of trucks charging can demand several times what an equivalent van depot needs, and at the megawatt-charging end, a single site can rival a small industrial load. That makes a grid reinforcement more likely than not — and reinforcement is the slowest, least predictable part of any project.
Start with the DNO, early
Because connection lead times at this scale can be long, engaging your DNO early is even more important than for a van depot. An early, evidence-based estimate of your peak demand turns a cold enquiry into a planning conversation and protects your timeline.
Keep the peak manageable
The peak you must request is not the sum of every charger at full power — it’s the simultaneous peak, which smart charging and load management can flatten by spreading the fleet across the hours available. An on-site battery can shave the sharpest peaks, letting you support more charging than the raw connection would allow. At truck scale, these levers can save enormous reinforcement cost.
Phase to fit
You rarely need the full end-state connection on day one. Phase the rollout by which duty cycles are ready, grow the connection in step, and use the Grid Capacity Estimator to turn each phase’s charger plan into a demand figure for the DNO. Remember the reinforcement itself falls outside grant funding, so budget for it deliberately.