MOTO, the UK’s leader in motorway service areas, has committed to having at least six ultra-rapid chargers at all of its service centres by the end of 2022, with 28 sites fitted with ultra-rapid chargers by the end of this year.
The move to electric charging represents an investment in excess of £100 million and includes an upgrade to all existing 50kW chargers by the end of July for greater charging power ahead of increased ‘staycation’ traffic. The ultra-rapid 350kW direct current chargers will have the capability to add up to 100 miles of range in less than five minutes and will accept contactless payment.
Moto opened the first of a series of flagship charging sites at its Rugby Services, located at Junction 1 on the M6, at the end of April. The site is fitted with 24 ultra-rapid EV charging points, 12 Tesla and 12 Electric Highway, making it the largest ultra-rapid charging site on the motorway.
Ken McMeikan: encouraging more people to have the confidence to switch into electric vehicles
Following the blueprint of the new Rugby site, Moto is planning a further 24 ultra-rapid charger locations at Reading, Thurrock, and Exeter by the end of 2021. Moto predicts that by 2030 as many as three in 10 drivers could be pulling into motorway service areas in an electric vehicle.
Ken McMeikan, Chief Executive of Moto, said the company is committed to sustainable motoring and wants to play a key 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. Our vision is to transform the UK’s rest stop experience and we think motorists will be delighted with the new Moto site at Rugby, particularly as they begin travelling again following easing of COVID-19 restrictions to see family, friends and loved ones.”
Rugby is the first ultra-rapid installation for Electric Highway, of which Moto is a founding partner. According to the founder of Electric Highway, Dale Vince, it has come at a tipping point for 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,” said Vince.
See: Bp Pulse Targets Fleets With Ultra-Fast Charge Network Rollout
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