Charging demand to rise as holidays begin
Charging provider GRIDSERVE has predicted where the busiest charging hubs will be across its network as the school holidays begin and demand increases.
With most school terms ending last week, this week (27 July – 2 August) is forecast to be busiest as families start their getaways.
The final two weekends of August are also predicted to be some of the busiest with the August Bank Holiday directly followed by the final weekend of the summer break.
GRIDSERVE’s data shows that on average, across its Electric Highway, the busiest time to charge is between 11am and 1pm. By comparison, 9am and 3pm will be around 20% quieter.
It is suggesting that drivers consider switching their lunchtime sandwich stop for a morning coffee stop or mid-afternoon snack break. If the journey allows, charging before 8am or after 6pm is well worth it, as demand drops dramatically at these times.
If the journey is passing by one of these busiest sites, it suggests trying to plot an alternative route in advance to one of the other GRIDSERVE Super Hubs or Retail Hubs where more chargers are available.
| Busiest Time | Quieter Time | |
| Moto Cherwell Valley | 12pm | 10am/7pm |
| Moto Rugby | 12pm | 9am/5pm |
| Moto Wetherby | 12pm | 9am/4pm |
| Moto Donington Park | 12pm | 9am/3pm |
| Roadchef Strensham South | 1pm | 9am/2pm |
| Moto Exeter | 11am | 9am/4pm |
| Moto Chieveley | 12pm | 9am/5pm |
| Roadchef Sandbach South | 12pm | 9am/5pm |
Rebecca Trebble, Chief Customer Experience Officer said:
“GRIDSERVE hope this crucial data will help drivers plan their route and journey and avoid unnecessary queues.
“We would encourage drivers to download the new GRIDSERVE app to check live availability and to find your nearest charger.”
Image from Gridserve
