The number of EV charging sessions on the GRIDSERVE Electric Highway – the UK’s biggest motorway electric vehicle (EV) charging network – has tripled within the first 12 months of GRIDSERVE acquiring the nationwide network from Ecotricity. Latest utilisation statistics reveal that more than 100,000 EV charging sessions now take place each month, with the average charge time having decreased in line with the latest state-of-the-art EV chargers.
Over the past year, GRIDSERVE has embarked on a multimillion-pound programme to materially improve dependability, ease of use and availability of EV chargers across the country, including upgrading over 160 EV charging locations with new chargers and delivering additional High Power Electric Super Hubs – each featuring a bank of 6 to 12 x 350kW-capable chargers. This is in addition to the opening of its new flagship Norwich Electric Forecourt®.
Reliability, consistently reported as a number one priority for EV drivers, has significantly improved under GRIDSERVE, now standing at up to 99% uptime, with a goal of consistently driving this even higher
Accessibility has also improved, with contactless payment – previously unavailable at all legacy EV chargers – now ubiquitous across the network, making it easier than ever to charge and go. Each Electric Super Hub also includes at least one extra-wide accessible charging bay for every six EV charging spaces, and across the network, all three connection types (CCS, CHAdeMO, and Type 2 for AC) are available, catering for every type of EV.
The GRIDSERVE Electric Highway network is now integrated with dozens of maps, apps and navigation platforms, showing real time availability of EV chargers and supporting long distance journey planning across the UK.
Toddington Harper, CEO of GRIDSERVE, said: “Only one year ago, we acquired the GRIDSERVE Electric Highway with the aim of making EV driving an enjoyable, ultra-convenient and stress-free experience throughout the UK. From day one, we have been focussed on delivering the best possible charging experience for drivers, and the response has been staggering with more people than ever charging at motorway service stations. I’m proud to say that in just one year, GRIDSERVE has made reliable EV travel across Great Britain possible – from Land’s End to John o’ Groats, and Pembrokeshire to Dover.”
“Whilst we have materially improved EV charging across the UK, we have only touched the surface in terms of delivering the full extent of our plans, and it remains our mission to continually improve our network to give EV drivers the confidence that they can set off on any length of journey, to anywhere in the country, driving any type of EV, and have a better experience than making the same trip in a petrol or diesel vehicle.”
EV drivers across the country are invited to join GRIDSERVE in celebrating the one-year anniversary of the GRIDSERVE Electric Highway with the launch of its new competition. Five drivers will win 1,000 miles of free charge[i] across the entire network, including its Electric Forecourts®.
To enter, drivers must find the GRIDSERVE birthday-wrapped chargers hidden across the network and submit an image on Twitter or Instagram tagging GRIDSERVE and using the hashtag #GSElectricHighwayBday, to enter the draw. The competition will close at 23:59 on Sunday 31st July 2022, and winners will be announced on Twitter and Instagram by 11am on Friday 12th August 2022.
The 1,000 miles offer would cover 96 days of an average commute. For parents, this could mean 208 school runs and for those up for a challenge, it could mean completing the National Three Peaks route of 462 miles twice whilst charging on renewable energy on the GRIDSERVE Electric Highway. Available charging sites include the company’s flagship Electric Forecourts® in Braintree and Norwich, GRIDSERVE’s new High Power Electric Super Hubs in Rugby, Thurrock, Swansea, Exeter, Burton-in-Kendal, Heston and Severn View, plus Electric Hubs across the motorway network and popular retail destinations, enabling journeys nationwide.
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About GRIDSERVE
GRIDSERVE is a tech-enabled sustainable energy business whose purpose is to deliver sustainable energy and move the needle on climate change. It has pioneered a Sun-to-Wheel ecosystem that includes the most advanced hybrid solar + battery farms, award-winning electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and a customer-centric electric vehicle leasing platform.
