GRIDSERVE Electric Highway to revolutionise EV charging across the UK
GRIDSERVE has announced plans to revolutionise EV charging infrastructure in the UK as it launches the GRIDSERVE Electric Highway – a UK-wide network of more than 50 high power ‘Electric Hubs’.
This is alongside almost 300 rapid chargers installed across 85% of the UK’s motorway service stations, and more than a 100 GRIDSERVE Electric Forecourts in development.
The overall objective is to a UK-wide network that people can rely on, without range or charging anxiety, wherever they live in the UK, and whatever type of electric vehicle they drive. The news comes just weeks after the acquisition of the Electric Highway from Ecotricity.
In just six weeks since acquiring the Electric Highway, GRIDSERVE has installed new 60kW+ chargers at over 50 locations – from Land’s End to John O’Groats – a rate of around two new charging locations every day.
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, enabling any type of EV to charge with contactless payment options, and doubling the number of simultaneous charging sessions by offering dual charging from single chargers.
In addition, more than 50 high-powered ‘Electric Hubs’, featuring 6-12 x 350kW chargers capable of adding 100 miles of range in just 5 minutes, will be delivered at motorway sites across the UK, a programme that will see an additional investment, expected to exceed £100m.
GRIDSERVE Electric Highway’s first Motorway Electric Hub – a bank of 12 high power 350kW GRIDSERVE Electric Highway chargers alongside 12 x Tesla Superchargers was opened to the public in April at Rugby Services and is the UK’s largest high power motorway charging site.
It acts as a blueprint for all future sites, with more than 10 new Electric Hubs expected to be completed this year – starting with motorways services deployments in Reading (East and West), Thurrock, and Exeter, and Cornwall Services.
Funding to achieve GRIDSERVE’s ambitions is being supported by a new investor in GRIDSERVE, The Rise Fund, TPG’s global impact investing platform. The investment in GRIDSERVE sits alongside GRIDSERVE’s existing shareholder Hitachi Capital (UK) PLC, and enables GRIDSERVE to accelerate its purpose of helping to deliver sustainable energy at a scale needed to move the needle on climate change.
With more than $5.5 billion in assets under management across its platform, The Rise Fund works with growth-stage, high potential, mission-driven companies that have the power to change the world and help achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
Edward Beckley, Partner at TPG and senior member of The Rise Fund’s climate investing team, said: “We are excited to partner with GRIDSERVE in helping to make EV charging in the UK a fast and anxiety free experience. We view this as critical to enabling the rapid decarbonization of road based transportation, especially for long distance journeys.
“Decarbonised transport businesses, like GRIDSERVE, are a core pillar of The Rise Fund’s climate investing strategy”.
Including the company’s Electric Forecourt in Braintree, the GRIDSERVE Electric Highway network already includes more than 150 charging locations, covering 85% of the UK’s motorway network with the capability of charging almost than 400 vehicles simultaneously throughout the UK.
Speaking from Toddington Services, one of the latest sites to have new chargers installed, Toddington Harper, CEO of GRIDSERVE, said: “I was named after Toddington Services, built almost 60 years ago. In that time, vehicle technology has incrementally improved however still remains noisy, polluting and is ultimately detrimental to a stable climate.
“Now, in just a few years, we will see one of the most rapid and far-reaching revolutions in the history of transport. I’m proud to stand here today, launching the GRIDSERVE Electric Highway charging network that will help to deliver that exciting future – given my name, perhaps this is a job I was destined to do!”
“GRIDSERVE’s purpose is to deliver sustainable energy and move the needle on climate change, and the GRIDSERVE Electric Highway – a network of easy-to-use, reliable, rapid and high power chargers right across the UK – is doing just that, eliminating charging anxiety and making driving electric an enjoyable, ultra-convenient and stress-free experience. We’re working at a phenomenal pace to rollout cutting-edge charging infrastructure and will continue to move heaven and earth to install new chargers en-mass in as many locations as we can, and as quickly as possible.”
Image: courtesy of GRIDSERVE / Greenhouse PR
