Motorway service area giant Moto has announced its largest ultra-rapid charging site, which will open in Rugby tomorrow (30 April).
The service area will have 24 ultra-rapid 350kW direct current charging points, with these being 12 Tesla and 12 Electric Highway. Such chargers have the capacity to add up to 100 miles of range in less than five minutes, and will accept contactless payment.
According to Moto, the Rugby site represents a landmark moment in its rollout of motorway EV charging, with 28 of its sites now set to have ultra-rapid chargers by the end of the year. By the end of 2022, the company is aiming to have at least six ultra-rapid chargers at all of its sites, as part of a a long-term +£100 million investment programme.
This includes upgrading all of its existing 50kW chargers by the end of July 2021, ensuring there is greater charging power ahead of the expected increase in ‘staycation’ traffic.
Ken McMeikan, chief executive of Moto, said that the company is committed to sustainable motoring and keen to play its part in “encouraging more people to have the confidence to switch into electric vehicles”.
“Rugby Services is the most significant first step in achieving this and we’re proud to be launching the UK’s largest EV charging site.”
Following on from the new Rugby site, Moto is planning a further 24 ultra-rapid charger locations at Reading, Thurrock and Exeter by the end of 2021.
Dale Vince, founder of the Electric Highway added that its first ultra-rapid installation at Moto’s Rugby site comes “at a tipping point in the adoption of electric vehicles”.
“The installation comes at the beginning of a new partnership with GRIDSERVE, which kickstarts a comprehensive programme where these installations will become ubiquitous across all Moto services, helping to make the experience of using an electric car no different to using a fossil-powered one.”
GRIDSERVE acquired a 25% stake in Ecotricity’s Electric Highway network in March, and Current± caught up with Toddington Harper, CEO of GRIDSERVE shortly after to discuss how the company is “moving heaven and earth as fast as possible to get new chargers in place in hopefully every location”.