InstaVolt unveils Super Hub plan

Chargepoint operator InstaVolt has submitting plans for its first Super Hub at Winchester. It will be positioned near the A34 junction, close to the M3 and just north of the historic city.

The proposal includes a solar, battery and grid combination to create what InstaVolt say will be the largest charging hub in the UK. The InstaVolt Super Hub will focus on the use of renewable energy including large ground-mount and roofmounted solar arrays and on-site energy storage systems.

On-site amenities are to include food, drink and toilets.

Adrian Keen, chief executive of InstaVolt, said: “This project highlights our commitment to expanding the UK’s rapid charging infrastructure on the strategic road network, and is the first of a number of InstaVolt Super Hubs in development. We’ll be improving leisure options for drivers on our network including plenty of open green space and a play park for energetic children. As well as

Tom Hurst, UK country manager for Fastned, said: “This project will help redevelop an under-utilised vehicle storage facility into a world-class EV charging hub, providing much needed infrastructure for the local community.

“We look forward to working with the local community and authorities to get the site up and running and bringing drivers the charging experience they deserve. Our UK operations started in the North East, at Sunderland in 2019, and we are incredibly proud to be taking things to the next level here in Newcastle.” provision of long bays for larger vehicles, vans and towing vehicles. We also understand how important it is to ensure our network is suitable for everyone, that’s why our plans include designs to create accessibility for all.”

The new station plans come as Fastned was ranked the joint best charging point operator in the UK, according to users of the Zapmap chargepoint mapping service. Fastned’s most recent station opening in the North East was at Parson’s Road, Washington.

Electric vehicle (EV) charging points are appearing in retail parks, hospital car parks and the car parks of all kinds of commercial premises across the country to help facilitate the transition to electric motoring, although some say the installation growth still needs to be faster.

Unsurprisingly there are a host of EV charging point providers springing up whose business is to operate the charging stations. They install and maintain the equipment, link to electricity networks and manage driver payments or, in some cases, bill landlords if the charging points are to be offered free to visiting customers.

As such landlords and EV charging point operators need to negotiate and enter into a lease that meets the current and future needs of both parties.

There are a number of standard features that lease negotiations need to consider, including: whether planning consent is required for construction of the EV station; the planning conditions attached to the landlord’s land stipulating a minimum number and type of parking bays to be provided; the right to install electrical cabling from the electrical grid to the EV station; and rights of entry on the land to allow maintenance, repair and renewal of the cabling. However, it is also important to consider the future needs of both parties given the rapidly evolving EV market.

EV operators will require a lease of between 10 and 20 years to recoup the significant infrastructure costs involved in installing an EV station. Operating incomes will clearly depend on usage and electricity supply and pricing. Models are helpful to a point. But it would not be unreasonable for a landlord to look to receive a performance rent calculated by reference to the EV operator’s net profit received from the EV station.

If electric vehicle car ownership continues to rise, the EV operator may need the option to lease an increased number of car parking spaces. However, equally the landlord may wish to relocate (lift and shift) the EV station to a different part of the car park in future. Leases should therefore specify whether this would be at the landlord’s cost and perhaps, include a rent free period whilst the EV station is out of operation.

There may be circumstances, such as the development of a new retail park nearby or the loss of an anchor tenant in a car park, which may lead to a drop of traffic, making the economics of the EV station no longer viable. The EV operator will look for the lease to reflect this, including the right for them to terminate the lease early.

The lease should set out clearly what equipment the EV operator will remove on termination of the lease and whether the landlord will purchase the equipment and if so, at what price. There may be