Infinium Logistics acquires three new sites for its EV fleet charging real estate fund

Infinium Logistics, the European asset management and logistics solutions business, announces that it has acquired three new assets for its FleetHubs property investment platform. The assets include sites in Heathrow, Sheffield and Surrey, and have been acquired for a total consideration of £40m.

Infinium’s mission is to lead the world’s transition to sustainable energy through the development and operation of large-scale EV charging infrastructure powered by renewable energy. Infinium invests in FleetHubs, a new sustainability-focused asset class which combines commercial real estate and low carbon energy infrastructure, to create the next generation of parking and charging assets which drive the lowest price and lowest carbon electricity solution for global fleets.

The electrification of fleets is not just good for the planet or the air we breathe; it makes undeniable economic sense. According to McKinsey, Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) will outperform Internal Combustion Engines (ICE) across all Light Commercial Vehicle types by 2025 and BEV fleets are predicted to have a 15-25% lower total cost of ownership than ICE vehicles by 2030.[1] But this is not just about cost efficiencies and economic sense; companies requiring fleet and logistics services are demanding carbon neutral commitments leading to better revenue growth for those pursuing a BEV future.

Heathrow

Infinium has acquired the Heathrow Flightpath car park for £22.5m from Aprirose. Located close to Terminals 2 and 3, the property currently comprises over 700 parking spaces across four acres and is occupied by a Meet & Greet airport parking operator. It offers a highly strategic location fronting the A4 and close to the airport, providing Infinium with a unique site from which to pursue its future decarbonisation plans. Colliers advised Infinium and Lambert Smith Hampton represented Aprirose.

Tom Markwell, Investment Manager at Infinium, commented: “This acquisition is a pivotal step forward in Infinium’s mission to decarbonise, electrify and optimise commercial transport. As one of the world’s busiest airports[2], Heathrow symbolises a major hub for global traffic, making this an ideal setting to drive the transition to electric vehicles. The site presents Infinium with a prime opportunity to showcase our commitment to delivering a more functional, sustainable, tech-enabled transportation ecosystem and a cleaner, greener future.”

Sheffield

Infinium has completed the acquisition of the three-acre site on Terry Street for an undisclosed sum. The property is currently known as the Insight Building and comprises an office building with associated car parking which was previously occupied by the vendor Insight. Set in a prominent location just off Junction 34 of the M1, the site is adjacent to Sheffield Arena and surrounded by warehouse hubs for leading UK logistics providers, including Amazon, Royal Mail, Parcel Force, FedEx and UPS. The deal represents an opportunity to develop a 200-space FleetHub and an ultra-rapid EV charging forecourt, interest in which has been shown from several end-users. CBRE advised Infinium and Savills represented Insight.

Surrey

Infinium has unconditionally exchanged contracts on the acquisition of a site in Surrey with completion due in February 2024. The intention is to further build out our portfolio of FleetHubs here, developing critical EV charging infrastructure to support the significant need in the location. Further information will be released at the point of completion.

Speaking about the wider strategy, Phil Bayliss, CEO of Infinium Logistics, said: “Helping to deliver the clean energy transition through the electrification of commercial transport in real estate is an extraordinary opportunity. The role that the real estate sector can play as architects of a cleaner, greener mobility future is enormous and our generation’s defining, watershed moment in the drive towards a sustainable future. It will all start with great sites in high demand locations and these investments do just that.”

Tom Gough, Investment Director at Infinium, added: “These asset locations have been a primary focus for the past 12 months, so to land the three deals in such quick succession is a huge achievement for the business. They represent key locations for which critical EV infrastructure is needed and in turn will aid transport operators to transition to fully electric fleets and realise significant cost and operational efficiencies in doing so.”

With a mission to lead the rapid energy transition of transport by Decarbonising, Electrifying and Optimising fleets, Infinium launched its dedicated EV fleet charging real estate platform in 2022. The platform’s first major investment was in Swindon and this was followed earlier this year by the acquisition of an EV charging facility let to Amazon in Banbury for £28m.

Infinium currently has an extensive pipeline in advanced discussion through which it looks to develop a portfolio of electrified FleetHubs in key industrial locations across Europe. It is targeting brownfield sites of over three acres as close to key logistics hubs as possible.

[1] McKinsey & Company: Why the economics of electrification make this decarbonization transition different.

[2] Heathrow Airport is the UK’s largest and busiest airport as well as being the busiest airport in Europe and seventh busiest in the world based on passenger traffic.

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