Energy · Petrol, diesel & EVs · 2 November 2026
Bidfood starts electrifying Slough depot with overhead charging
Bidfood has begun installing an overhead charging system at its Slough depot, SMMT announced. The setup allows electric trucks to recharge during standard loading periods. This is the first such installation at a Bidfood site.
SMMT reported that Bidfood has commenced the electrification of its Slough depot using an overhead charging system. The infrastructure was supplied by Kempower and installed by Erinion, which acts as Kempower’s sales and service partner. This marks the first time a Bidfood site has adopted this specific charging configuration.
The system relies on four Kempower control units mounted on a cantilevered gantry. It draws power from a single 600 kW unit and can deliver up to 160 kW per control unit. Electric trucks can recharge during loading windows of 45 minutes to two hours. Two electric trucks currently operate at the depot, including a new 18-tonne Renault Trucks vehicle.
Gareth Sutcliffe, UK Sales Manager for Commercial Fleets at Kempower, stated: "While the urgency for UK fleets to electrify is real, the practicalities of fitting a depot with charging infrastructure are an industry-wide challenge." He added that the overhead solution, which conserves space and uses scheduled loading stops, is becoming a tried and tested method.
The announcement does not specify a completion date for the full rollout across other Bidfood locations. It also does not detail the total cost of the installation or the specific energy source powering the 600 kW unit.
Written by StreetOwl from SMMT, a trade body’s own announcement. It was drafted by StreetOwl’s own model, every figure and quotation was checked by code against the announcement, and it was read and approved by Michael Rossi before it went up. It says what was announced, not what anyone should do about it.
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