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Uber welcomes new BP Pulse Gatwick ultra-fast EV charging hub Mark Bursa Uber has welcomed the launch of BP Pulse’s new Gatwick Airport fastcharging hub as a “great step” in switching drivers to fully electric vehicles. The facility is the first and to date only ultra-fast charging hub available in and around London’s second airport. It is the first in a number of major BP Pulse installations planned for 2022, with development already underway on an ultra-fast hub at Heathrow Airport. Jamie Heywood, Uber regional general manager, northern and eastern Europe, said: “We know from speaking to drivers that one of the greatest barriers to electrification is the lack of rapid charging points in the right places. Airport trips are
an important part of many drivers’ earning opportunities, so BP Pulse’s new Gatwick hub is a great step in making sure their electric charging needs will be met.” The hub, located in Gatwick’s popular Q-Park parking facility,
includes three ultra-fast 150kW charging units that can charge an EV to 80% capacity in as little as 1015 minutes, providing a range of around 100 miles. Using new hardware, these units will in the future be upgraded to
Gridserve and Moto open first ultra-fast EV charging hub in Wales Wales’ first high-powered electric vehicle charging hub has opened at Moto Swansea. The advanced Electric Hub, part of the Gridserve Electric Highway, initially hosts six 350kW high-power EV charge points, with the ability to quickly add a further six high power chargers as soon as they are required. All chargers will be supplied with 100% net zero carbon energy from Gridserve’s solar farms, accept contactless payment for maximum accessibility, and have the ability to deliver 100 miles of range in less than 10 minutes to vehicles that are capable of using the chargers’ full capacity. The hub is located at Moto Swansea at junction 47 on the M4. The Gridserve Electric Hub supports the Welsh Government’s plans to slash emissions from transport, a sector responsible for 17% of the country’s overall emissions. The Government’s Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy for Wales commits to delivering 4,000 rapid chargers across the country over the next decade – of which just 3% are already installed. Currently, Wales has one of the lowest numbers
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of EV charge points per head of population in the UK. South-west Wales – where Gridserve’s Electric Hub is located – has just half the average proportion of EVs when compared to the rest of the UK. Gridserve is actively looking at further sites in Wales for the development of future Electric Hubs and Electric Forecourts to help boost charging in the country. Toddington Harper, CEO of Gridserve, said: “This is a landmark project for Gridserve and Moto and the first high-power charging facility of its kind for Wales. We’re really excited to be demonstrating that all parts of the UK should be able to embrace the EV revolution.” “We cannot let a lack of infrastructure prevent drivers from realising the myriad of benefits that come with driving an electric vehicle. This project will help deliver the confidence for more people to make the switch to EVs, as well as support the growing number of people who already have. The Electric Hub at Moto Swansea is the first of many projects that we are aiming to deliver across Wales.”
300kW giving compatible EV vehicles an even faster charge. The site also includes four 50kW chargers, providing convenient charging for airport users, including taxi drivers, local businesses with electric vehicle fleets and local residents. Enabled by UK Power Networks, the seven chargers allow 10 electric vehicles to charge simultaneously. Akira Kirton, CEO of BP Pulse, said: “We want to bring convenient, fast charging where it is needed most. The opening of this latest hub at the UK’s second busiest airport is another important step in our roll out of ultra-fast charging.” Adam Bidder, Managing Director of Q-Park UK, said “Q-Park is focusing heavily on our sustainable urban mobility strategy and the BP Pulse charging hubs such as this are a vital ingredient.”
Ken McMeikan, CEO of Moto, added: “We are accelerating our ambition to open ultra-rapid charging hubs at all of our Motorway Service Areas over the coming 12 months and are delighted with the progress that our partnership with Gridserve is making.” Gridserve is delivering the biggest upgrade to motorway EV charging infrastructure in UK history. Over 20 Electric Hubs – each consisting of 6-12 350kW ultra high-power chargers – are due to open at motorway services across the UK by the end of Q2 2022, with large numbers of additional Electric Hub sites being lined up to follow. Since Gridserve’s acquisition of Ecotricity’s Electric Highway in June of last year, the company has already invested tens of millions of pounds in upgrading the network. In addition to opening the first Electric Hub at Moto Rugby, the company has replaced more than 300 historical Ecotricity DC rapid chargers and has installed 130 additional AC chargers, ensuring that the charging needs for all types of electric vehicles are catered for. Gridserve is also progressing plans to deliver more than 100 Electric Forecourts across the UK, with sites at Gatwick Airport and Norwich already in construction, and many more sites in development. Gridserve opened the UK’s first Electric Forecourt in Braintree, Essex in December 2020. —Mark Bursa
MARCH 2022
