Ecotricity logotype
/Our news/2021/Electric Highway opens UK’s largest high power motorway charging site

Our news

Article tags
Article tags
  • electric highway
  • business
  • news
Browse archives
Our news

Electric Highway opens UK’s largest high power motorway charging site

Press enquiries

If you are a journalist with a media enquiry, please contact our Press Office by email at pressoffice@ecotricity.co.uk

For all other general enquiries, please call 01453 756 111 or email home@ecotricity.co.uk.

12 x 350kW chargers at MOTO’s new Rugby services offers a taste of the future

By Christopher Appleby
4 May 2021
Electric Highway Rugby services
Electric Highway opens high power charging at Rugby services

The Electric Highway – the world’s first nationwide charging network, has today opened the UK’s largest high power motorway charging site, a development it promises will become ubiquitous as it transforms its network of facilities on the country’s motorways and major roads.

The installation is the first under the Electric Highway’s new partnership with GRIDSERVE, which saw the company take a 25% stake in the Highway – as well as bringing its acclaimed technology and expertise to the network.

The Electric Highway’s flagship motorway installation is open now at MOTO’s brand-new Rugby services at Junction 1 of the M6.  The new facility includes 12 state-of-of-the-art high-powered pumps from Tritium, able to charge supported vehicles at 350kW – adding around 100m of range in less than five minutes. All pumps are contactless.

As part of the major Electric Highway transformation programme – funded by GRIDSERVE investor Hitachi Capital (UK) PLC – all existing 50kW pumps will be replaced this summer while in parallel, work has begun on high power installations across its entire network.

Toddington Harper, CEO of GRIDSERVE, said:

“GRIDSERVE’s purpose is to deliver sustainable energy and move the needle on climate change, and the rollout of high-power chargers across Britain’s motorways in partnership with Moto will do just that – providing drivers with the confidence to go electric today.

To see what the future of electric vehicle charging on the UK motorway network looks like, you can now visit Moto’s new Motorway Service Area at Rugby. After announcing our Electric Highway partnership with Ecotricity in March, and supported by Hitachi Capital (UK) PLC, we’ve been hard at work putting in the charging infrastructure needed to give people the confidence to make the transition to electric vehicles, by delivering 6-12 high power 350kW chargers across the network as quickly as possible, as well as replacing all the existing chargers with the latest technology.”

Dale Vince, Founder, The Electric Highway, added:

“We began building the Electric Highway ten years ago and Moto were one of our founding partners. Back then, state-of-the-art charging was just 7kW and here we are today at 350kW in just a decade.  This is our very first high-power installation, and this new technology comes just at a tipping point in the adoption of electric vehicles.

This marks the beginning of our new partnership with GRIDSERVE, and kickstarts a comprehensive programme where these installations will become ubiquitous on the motorway network, helping to make the experience of using an electric car no different to using a fossil-powered one.”

Similar articles

Stroud Women’s Refuge

Ecotricity are proud to support Stroud Women’s Refuge as part of our Vulnerability Commitment. Stroud Women’s Refuge are a small charity based in Stroud who help women and children fleeing domestic abuse.

More
Manifesto book with long shadow

Get the book!

Manifesto out now

Shop
Dale Vince portrait with bandana

DaleVince.com

Our founder Dale Vince shares his thoughts on the green revolution

Explore the site

Don’t just take our word for it…

Ecotricity is recommended by
Ethical Consumer Best Buy logo
  • Our story
  • Our mission
  • Our manifesto
  • 29 years of Ecotricity
  • Ecotricity innovation
  • Walking the talk
  • Our partners
  • Our news
Ecotricity logotype

Climate Clock

The Climate Clock is a version of the Doomsday clock that has been running since 1947 - this tracks the risk of global man-made disaster, through man made technology (like nuclear weapons) - displaying the minutes and seconds left before midnight, when disaster strikes. The climate crisis is a small part of the calculations made.
The climate clock uses a similar approach, but, focuses only on the climate crisis - which is the biggest and most urgent existential threat we face.
"The Climate Clock is a countdown to the biggest man-made disaster we face - but also a measure by which we can track our progress - moving from fossil to renewable energy. It shows we have no time to lose - the clock is ticking…" Dale Vince, OBE.