Record increase in ultra-rapid chargers at motorway services

There has been a record increase in the number of ultra-rapid electric vehicle (EV) chargers of 150kW or more at motorway services in England, new research suggests. Analysis by the RAC and Zapmap shows that 200 additional 150kW+ EV chargers have been installed since the beginning of the year, a 51% increase over the previous eight months and a new record. It means almost half (48%) of the 114 motorway services in England – some 55 sites – now have six or more ultra-rapid chargers, with many offering the very fastest speeds of up to 350kW.

However, four MSAs do not have any charging provision of 50kW of more. Two of these, Leicester Forest East M1 north and southbound, are run by Welcome Break which said there are difficulties bringing sufficient power to the sites. The company is working to resolve this with National Grid Electricity Distribution, National Highways and the local authorities and hopes to install ultra-rapid chargers next year.

The other two other locations with no rapid charge points – Sedgemoor M5 northbound and Telford M54 – are still awaiting high-powered connections to the electricity grid. Gridserve, the charge point operator that runs the nationwide Electric Highway network at motorway services, confirmed it is hoping to start installing chargers at Sedgemoor in 2025. The previous Government had set a target of having six or more high-powered 50kW+ chargers[1] at every motorway service area in England by the end of 2023.

Just half (54%) of motorway services areas (MSAs) have six or more 50kW+ chargers – some 61 sites. Nearly two-thirds (64% or 73 sites), meanwhile, have at least one ultra-rapid 150kW+ charger, often in addition to other ‘slower’ rapid chargers. RAC head of policy, Simon Williams, said: “Although the previous Government’s target of having six high-powered chargers over 50kW at every motorway services in England was undoubtedly missed, it’s very clear that great progress is being made regardless and, in some locations, the number of chargers provided is now extremely impressive.

“It is particularly encouraging to see so many ultra-rapid chargers being installed, with these representing nearly three-quarters (73%) of all the high-powered devices at motorway services so far this year, up from 54% a year ago. “As we’ve long said, this is just what’s needed to give current and prospective EV drivers the reassurance to know they can get back on the road quickly when making long journeys beyond the range of their cars.” Williams explained that the prime stumbling block for service station companies and charge point operators is getting the required high-powered connections to the country’s national electricity grid.

“More needs to be done to make this process faster and simpler than it is currently,” he said. “This is the exact point of the Government’s GBP950m Rapid Charging Fund, so it would be good to see this delivering more high-speed connections soon.” Six MSAs – Reading M4 east and westbound, Cobham M25, Exeter M5, Gloucester M5 northbound and Frankley M5 southbound – have more than 12 ultra-rapid 150kW+ devices. Frankley on the M5 southbound has the most 150kW+ chargers (28), with Reading on the M4 westbound having 25.

Many locations also have additional Tesla chargers. Looking at high-powered charging of 50kW or more across England as a whole, each motorway services has an average of seven chargers – 818 at 114 sites. In terms of ultra-rapid chargers, there is an average of five at every service in England (595 at 114 sites).

Zapmap co-founder and chief operating officer, Melanie Shufflebotham, highlighted the “huge investment” in charging at motorway services areas over the past couple of years. “The increase in number of high-powered charging at motorway service areas since the beginning of the year has been impressive,” she added. “It’s good to see Tesla opening up some of its locations to all vehicles, and I am sure there is more to come.

“We know from our surveys and data that motorway service areas are very popular, convenient charging locations, and as more people make the switch to electric, it is important that there is sufficient visible provision at each and every motorway service area. “That said, the huge growth of charging hubs, typically very close to key routes, means that EV drivers do not need to solely rely on the motorway service areas, and have a broad range of options from which to choose.”

Growth in charging hubs

The RAC and Zapmap analysis also showed how high-powered hubs for charging en-route are being deployed close to popular routes in many locations, to supplement chargers available at motorway service areas.

In addition to the 61 hubs in motorway service areas, there are 302 such hubs with six or more 50kW+ devices across England. For example, Gridserve is building Electric Forecourts to support well-travelled routes including 26 high-powered chargers at London Gatwick just off the M23[2], and a further 30 charger bays at J7 just off the A1(M) soon to open in Stevenage. In the west, Osprey has installed 16 ultra-rapid chargers just off the busy A38 Devon Expressway[3] at Salmons Leap, Buckfastleigh, in Devon.

InstaVolt has also installed a charging hub consisting of 32 high-powered chargers in Stroud Park[4], close to the M40 motorway. Last week, Zapmap revealed that the number of public charging devices has surpassed the 70,000 mark. This milestone comes just five months after Zapmap recorded 60,000 public chargers in April 2024.

As of September 2024, there are now 70,434 public charging devices available to EV drivers in the UK, representing a 41% year-on-year increase compared to September 2023, when 49,882 devices were recorded.

References

1. ^ previous Government had set a target of having six or more high-powered 50kW+ chargers (www.fleetnews.co.uk)
2. ^ 26 high-powered chargers at London Gatwick just off the M23 (www.fleetnews.co.uk)
3. ^ Osprey has installed 16 ultra-rapid chargers just off the busy A38 Devon Expressway (www.fleetnews.co.uk)
4. ^ charging hub consisting of 32 high-powered chargers in Stroud Park (www.fleetnews.co.uk)