Skip advert
Advertisement

UK motorway EV charging network sold to Gridserve

The Hitachi-backed company, which already owned a 25 percent stake in the network, has bought the rest of business from Ecotricity

Gridserve

Gridserve, the charging service provider backed by Hitachi, has bought out the rest of the Ecotricity Electric Highway project. 

Gridserve acquired a 25 percent stake in the Electric Highway in March this year, and this next move is expected to bring tens of millions of pounds worth of investment to the UK’s motorway charging network, which has previously developed a reputation for unreliability.

According to the Financial Times, Gridserve has set aside tens of millions of pounds for the rest of the Electric Highway business, which is separate from the cash it’s due to spend on updating the network’s charging sites in the future. 

Advertisement - Article continues below

The cash injection will be used to swap the network's existing chargers (which have been criticised for their slow speeds) with new units that support CCS, CHAdeMO and AC connections. Investment will also be made in green technologies such as making natural gas from grass, and forging diamonds from carbon pulled from the air.

Ecotricity and Gridserve will install between six and 12 350kW DC rapid chargers at each motorway service station. All of the new chargers will support contactless payment, as demanded by legislation, and the companies hope the planned upgrades will help further encourage EV ownership.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Ecotricity’s owner, Dale Vince, told the FT that the Electric Highway needs “tens of millions” of pounds worth of investment to bring it up to scratch, and that the project “needs an owner with access to serious funding and real commitment to the cause” to see the renovations through to their completion.

These upgrades to the UK’s motorway charging network were initially triggered after the Department for Transport (DfT) said it planned to ensure at least six high-powered, open-access EV charge points were installed at every motorway service station in England by 2023, to address concerns about the speed and reliability of some existing units.

The DfT expects there will be 2,500 such chargers across the Highways England network by 2030, rising to 6,000 by 2035. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has already launched a consultation aimed at improving public confidence and private investment in the UK’s EV charging sector.

Gridserve’s CEO, Toddington Harper, said the upgraded network would “provide the confidence people need to immediately make the transition” to electric vehicles, adding that it would ensure EV charging is “straightforward” and “anxiety free.”

Earlier this year, Transport minister Rachel Maclean told Auto Express the CMA consultation would “ensure that it is as easy – or even easier – for drivers to charge their car as it is to refuel a petrol or diesel vehicle.”

She added: “We’re… proposing that operators should make location data, power rating and price information more accessible for drivers as this is essential for ensuring costs are fair, boosting the confidence of both existing electric vehicle drivers and those considering making the switch.”

Thinking of buying an electric car? Check out our tips and advice page on the UK’s charging network… 

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

BYD Atto 3 review
BYD Atto 3 - front tracking

BYD Atto 3 review

New kid on the block BYD has hit the ground running with its all-electric family SUV, combining quirky design with a comfortable ride in the Atto 3
In-depth reviews
23 Jan 2025
What is MaaS? Mobility as a Service and the future of car use
Mobilize Duo - front static

What is MaaS? Mobility as a Service and the future of car use

We look at the pros and cons of Mobility as a Service, and the vehicles set to help change the face of car ownership
Features
29 Dec 2024
Tesla Model Y alternatives: cars you could buy instead of Tesla's top-selling SUV
Tesla Model Y alternatives - header image

Tesla Model Y alternatives: cars you could buy instead of Tesla's top-selling SUV

The Tesla Model Y is a superb family SUV with EV power, but what if you fancy something different? We’ve come up with the best new and used alternativ…
Features
18 Dec 2024
Best electric car charging stations 2024: UK's top charger networks rated by EV owners
Best electric car charging stations 2024 - header

Best electric car charging stations 2024: UK's top charger networks rated by EV owners

The bad, the good and the outstanding; you rank the major players in the expanding UK charging network
Features
13 Nov 2024

Most Popular

Car Deal of the Day: handsome, sporty Mazda CX-5 dips under £250 per month
Mazda CX-5

Car Deal of the Day: handsome, sporty Mazda CX-5 dips under £250 per month

The Mazda CX-5 is fun to drive, features a driver-focused, premium interior and is our Deal of the Day for 9 February
News
9 Feb 2025
BMW X3 vs Lexus NX: which premium mid-size SUV takes top honours?
BMW X3 and Lexus NX - front tracking

BMW X3 vs Lexus NX: which premium mid-size SUV takes top honours?

BMW’s much-lauded new X3 is one of the best luxury compact SUVs on the market – but is it good enough to topple the cheaper hybrid-powered Lexus NX 35…
Car group tests
8 Feb 2025
Cupra Tavascan V1 long-term test: new electric SUV hits the high notes
Cupra Tavascan long termer - header

Cupra Tavascan V1 long-term test: new electric SUV hits the high notes

First report: sporty Spanish electric SUV joins the Auto Express fleet – what do we make of it so far?
Long-term tests
9 Feb 2025

Find a car with the experts