Sustainable energy company Gridserve launched its Electric Highway today [01 July], which aims to eliminate EV charging anxiety across the UK.
The UK-wide network will one day feature more than 50 high power ‘Electric Hubs’ with six to 12 350kW chargers in each, plus almost 300 rapid chargers installed across 85% of the UK’s motorway service stations, and more than 100 Gridserve Electric Forecourts.
Gridserve said the overall objective is to establish a charging network that people can rely on, without range or charging anxiety, wherever they live in the UK, and whatever type of EV they drive.
This follows the acquisition of the Electric Highway from Ecotricity in June. Gridserve added since then it has installed new 60kW+ chargers at over 50 locations, a rate of around 2 new charging locations every day.
Furthermore, the entire network of almost 300 old Ecotricity chargers at more than 150 locations on motorways and IKEA stores is on track to be replaced by September. This will enable any type of EV to charge with contactless payment options, and will double the number of simultaneous charging sessions by offering dual charging from single chargers.
Gridserve Electric Highway’s first Motorway Electric Hub, a bank of 12 high power 350kW chargers alongside 12 Tesla Superchargers, was opened to the public in April at Rugby Services.
It will act as a blueprint for all future sites, with the company working to introduce more than 10 new Electric Hubs by the end of this year. Starting with motorways services deployments in Reading (East and West), Thurrock, and Exeter, and Cornwall Services.
Transport minister, Rachel Maclean, said: “As we accelerate towards cleaner and greener transport, I’m delighted to see Gridserve leading the charge in the EV charging revolution.
“The UK government has already set out plans to invest £1.3bn in accelerating the roll out of charging infrastructure, targeting support for rapid charge-points on motorways and major roads to erase any anxiety around long journeys. Couple this with forward-thinking projects like the Gridserve Electric Highway, and there has never been a better time to go electric.”
