GRIDSERVE has opened its latest High Power Electric Super Hub near Stonehenge at Solstice Park, Wiltshire, as the firm continues to rollout EV charging stations to increase accessibility.
Situated on the A303, the Electric Super Hub contains eight 350kW-capable high-power chargers. These are powered by 100% net zero energy with the hub utilising hybrid solar and battery farms.
The chargers feature combined charging systems (CCS) and CHAdeMO connectors as well as a larger bay to help with accessibility. Drivers are also able to plan journeys easily with real-time status updates to popular EV charging maps.
“We are thrilled to open this latest Electric Super Hub on this major road. We’re proud to be alongside some great recent additions to the customer experience at this location. In 2021, we opened one Electric Super Hub, in 2022 we have opened 11 new locations and in 2023, we aim to continue to accelerate,” said Toddington Harper, CEO of GRIDSERVE.
“Every new charging location makes a positive impact on moving the needle on climate change, enabling more electric journeys and giving those drivers yet to make the switch, the confidence to move to an electric vehicle.”
In October 2023, GRIDSERVE installed the UK’s “fastest EV charger” at the Braintree Electric Forecourt. The ABB Terra 360kW charger is capable of adding 100 miles of range in less than five minutes, the company said, dramatically increasing charging times whilst on the go around the UK.
The installation of the ABB Terra 360 charger is recognised as a trial for the new technology which, if successful, could become a regular at Electric Forecourts and Electric Super Hubs on the GRIDSERVE Electric Highway. This could see them potentially integrated into the new Wiltshire Electric Super Hub.
“We are delighted to host GRIDSERVE’S Super Electric Hub on our site at Solstice Park. This green initiative from GRIDSERVE fits in well alongside our wider stable of environmentally focused assets,” said Edward Rowlandson, group managing director, the RO Group – developers of Solstice Park.
“Through our investment arm, ROCP, we have made several investments in businesses focused on saving both energy and water and are looking for more as we pursue a more sustainable agenda for our business.”
2022 was a strong year for ultra-rapid charger installations, according to Zap-Map data. The number of ultra-rapid chargers grew from 1,290 at the end of 2021 to 2,295 at the end of 2022 – an increase that bodes well for the forthcoming transition to EVs in the coming years.
Another crucial achievement in 2022 for the EV industry is the opening of 106 new high-speed charging hubs, which consist of four or more rapid or ultra-rapid charging devices. This sees the number of these hubs increase from 189 at the end of 2021 to 295 at the end of December 2022 – a 56% increase.
As well as this, at the end of 2021, there were 89 high-speed charging hubs with seven or more devices. This figure increased to 128 by the end of 2022 representing an increase of 44%.
