GRIDSERVE and Extra are continuing to transform Electric Vehicle (EV) charging across the UK’s strategic road network with the opening of a new 24-bay Electric Super Hub at Extra’s Cobham Services on the M25 (Junctions 9/10). 

Welcoming more than 5.5 million visitors every year, Extra Cobham is the UK’s busiest motorway service area. Alongside a wide range of popular retail and food outlets, it now offers one of the country’s most advanced EV charging destinations, with 24 ultra-rapid charging bays equipped with GRIDSERVE’s latest 400kW-capable chargers. That means some of the latest electric vehicles can add more than 100 miles of range in under 10 minutes, helping drivers get back on the road as quickly as possible. 

This opening is the latest milestone in the long-standing partnership between GRIDSERVE and Extra, which now includes bringing ultra-rapid EV charging across Extra’s motorway service network. Together, both organisations are setting new standards for reliability, convenience and customer experience, while accelerating the UK’s transition to electric mobility. 

The Cobham Electric Super Hub also marks a significant technical milestone for the UK’s EV charging industry. In a UK first, GRIDSERVE has partnered with UK Power Networks, the region’s Distribution Network Operator, and ESP, the adopting Independent Distribution Network Operator, to connect the site using its Distributed Energy Resources Management System (DERMS). 

Traditionally, the rollout of large-scale EV charging infrastructure has often been constrained by the availability of grid capacity. At Cobham, DERMS enables GRIDSERVE to access additional electricity capacity dynamically whenever it becomes available. The system can automatically increase or reduce power delivered to the site in less than 60 seconds, responding in real time to conditions on the wider electricity network. 

This smarter, more flexible approach enables high-power charging sites to connect more quickly and with lower upfront infrastructure costs, while making better use of existing electricity networks. It also demonstrates, for the first time, that flexible demand management can support major electricity users such as EV charging hubs – not just energy generation assets like solar farms or battery storage – opening up new opportunities to accelerate the rollout of critical low-carbon infrastructure across the UK. 

As the UK’s most-used public charging network, GRIDSERVE continues to push the boundaries of what public EV charging can deliver. The opening at Cobham demonstrates how close collaboration between charge point operators, motorway service providers and electricity network partners can unlock new innovations while delivering a faster, more reliable charging experience for drivers. 

Daniel Kunkel, CEO at GRIDSERVE, said: “We’re incredibly proud to expand our partnership with Extra at Cobham Services. This new Electric Super Hub represents another important step in delivering the reliable, ultra-rapid charging network EV drivers need, while the introduction of DERMS for flexible demand is a genuine breakthrough for the industry. 

“By enabling smarter use of available grid capacity, we’re able to connect sites more quickly and more cost-effectively, helping us bring new Electric Super Hubs online faster while continuing to deliver the best possible charging experience for drivers.” 

Tom Dobson, Chief Executive at Extra MSA, said: “Our partnership with GRIDSERVE enables us to meet the rapidly growing demand for convenient, high-speed EV charging while reinforcing our position as the UK’s leading motorway service operator for electric vehicle infrastructure. Systems such as DERMS will be vital as we continue to invest significantly in high-power EV charging across our sites. 

“We are proud to play our part in supporting the transition to a low-carbon future, unlocking grid capacity and providing our customers with reliable, high-performance charging.” 

Daniel Saker, Head of Network Strategy at UK Power Networks DSO, added: “This is a landmark moment for UK Power Networks as we bring DERMS to IDNO customers for the first time. By enabling smarter, more flexible connections, we’re helping businesses and communities get their low-carbon projects online faster and more efficiently.”