December 21st 2021
Rapid EV chargers to be installed at service stations across the UK
More than 150 ultra-high power electric vehicle (EV) chargers will be deployed at service stations across the UK.
The 350kW chargers are capable of adding up to 100 miles of range in less than 10 minutes.
The charges will be installed through 20 Electric Hubs at motorway service stations across the UK, each hub will feature 6-12 chargers.
Some of the hubs are located in areas traditionally left behind in the EV transition, including Wales and Cornwall.
The majority of these hubs will be installed by the end of March 2022.
Two Electric Forecourts situated adjacent to major transport routes and motorways, including a flagship site at Gatwick Airport, are also in construction.
This investment programme forms part of GRIDSERVE’s plan to upgrade EV charging across the country.
Toddington Harper, CEO of GRIDSERVE, said: ‘Our mission is to deliver sustainable energy and move the needle on climate change, and that is exactly what we are doing – delivering.
‘Getting people into electric vehicles is a big part of our vision but to do that, charging has to be simple and free of anxiety, which is why we’ve designed our network entirely around the needs of drivers, listening to our customers’ needs and providing the best possible level of customer service to deliver the confidence people need to make the switch to electric transport today, 8-years ahead of the 2030 ban on petrol and diesel cars.’
Great news but personally (and speaking as an EV driver of over 12 years) I’d much rather see twice that number of rapids deployed with more sensible power output. Tesla’s original 125kW Superchargers were perfectly adequate for long distance driving given that for those who have EVs with large batteries (ie 80kWh+) – and these will be common amongst those motorists who regularly do long trips – would only have to stop for an hour every 4 hours or so of driving to pretty much fully charge. Most (if not all) EVs can only use about 150kW max anyway and even then when their batteries are relatively empty (the charge rate – kW – drops markedly the fuller the battery gets). In what possible way is that not a completely workable alternative to fossil fuelled motoring?