The DC fast charging manufacturer Kempower has completed its first UK leasing-enabled EV charging project.
Supporting Highway Stops Retail Limited (HSRL), it deployed eight new fast-charging points at its service station in Astwick. The project has been funded through a flexible finance agreement provided by Kempower’s leasing partner, DLL.
It believes the model will help lower upfront costs of EV charging infrastructure for operators. In addition, as part of the financing model, charging operators are supplied with regular maintenance services from Kempower in addition to the hardware.
Kempower and DLL partnered in 2024 to make the deployment of DC fast charging more accessible across Europe, and the Astwick project is both a UK-first for Kempower, and a first for the partnership.
Commissioned in February 2026, the Astwick site, which is located on the A1 northbound near Hitchin in Hertfordshire, features four Kempower Double Satellites, providing eight CCS2 connection points.
The Satellite chargers are connected to two Kempower Power Units, which enable each charger to supply up to 400 kW to connected EVs.
The hardware procurement, installation and long‑term servicing for the project are provided by Kempower’s infrastructure partner, Yunex Traffic.
Shilan Raja, Director at HSRL, said:
”Responses to our new chargers have been overwhelmingly positive from others in the industry. This project is the result of the collaboration between teams of people passionate about e-mobility, so it makes me proud to see the chargers being used by EV drivers every day. Financing the project through Kempower with DLL was a huge enabler.”
Rolle Nieminen, Kempower’s Head of Sales for the UK & Ireland, said:
“This flexible funding model opens the door for customers like HSRL who are in the early stages of expanding their EV charging services. The agreement we have with DLL helps remove the financial risk for operators, making the decision to commit to EV charging easier than ever. I’m excited to see more small and independent forecourt operators participating in the EV charging rollout through this new strategy.”
Mark McLoughlin, Energy Transition Country Commercial Manager for UK & Ireland at DLL, said:
“We partnered with Kempower because we wanted to enable its customers to be successful without the significant initial capex. In today’s world, where the initial cost of hardware is high, our financing solutions can make the deployment of EV chargers easier and more affordable.”
Image courtesy of Kempower
