A new electric vehicle (EV) charging hub – big enough to charge 180 cars simultaneously – has opened in Birmingham.
It marks a significant boost for Britain’s EV charging network, becoming the largest EV charging site in the UK.
The Gigahub, located at the Birmingham NEC – home of Akabo Media events IntraLogisteX, Robotics and Automation, and the Sustainable Supply Chain Exhibition – is said to be the largest-ever private investment in a UK EV project to date.
The project has been developed by the NEC, charging infrastructure company EV Network and BP Pulse, which also operates the site. It is funded by a record £8m from investment partner, Zood Infrastructure Limited.
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The site, which was officially opened by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, will provide 16 ultra-fast, 300KW DC charging bays and 150 7KW AC charging bays. Both types include additional designated accessible bays.
“This is the biggest private investment in electric charging in the UK and is a huge vote of confidence in Britain’s role as a leader in green industries,” said Hunt.
“The ground-breaking site will be a major transport hub for the future and marks a significant step in our rollout of EV charging infrastructure across the country.”
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The site is strategically positioned to become a major transport hub – located in the heart of the UK motorway network, including the M42, M46 and A45 and the new HS2 interchange station.
According to the government, EV public charging devices have more than tripled in four years from 10,300 devices in January 2019 to more than 45,500 in August 2023.
What’s more, the number of public chargepoints reportedly rose by 38% over the last year, and, as a recent report from the National Infrastructure Commission points out, if chargepoint deployment grows at around 30% per year the 300,000 expectation will be met.
Innovations and achievements in electric vehicles and charging infrastructure will be highlighted and celebrated at the second annual CiTTi Awards on 21 November 2023 at the De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London. Visit www.cittiawards.co.uk to learn more about this unmissable event for the UK’s transportation sector – and to book your table today!
