Osprey Charging to invest £75 million in rapid charging hubs
Osprey Charging has announced plans to invest £75 million in over 150 rapid electric vehicle charging hubs across the UK by 2025.
A total of 1,500 150-175KW rapid chargers will be installed across the sites, which will be located on strategic A-roads and adjacent to motorways, to encourage motorists to switch to electric cars ahead of the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel cars.
The £75 million rollout will also include new charger optimisation technology deployed publicly for the first time in the UK. Kempower charging technology enables more locations than ever to host multiple rapid chargers on a single site without compromising on charging power or requiring grid connections. The Kempower technology will be used alongside the Tritium charging hardware also being deployed on new sites by Osprey.
Ian Johnston, CEO of Osprey Charging, said: “The EV market is booming, with sales up over 117% year-on-year and EV adoption continuing to grow exponentially. In less than nine years’ time, buying a new petrol or diesel car will be impossible, so it’s crucial that public charging infrastructure stays ahead of the curve.
“Through this rollout we will make charging anxiety a thing of the past. High-powered, multi-charger hubs will herald a new era of public EV charging – enabling mass EV adoption and a clean transport revolution.
“Our rollout of hubs across the country’s major transport routes will ensure drivers are supported with convenient, reliable, on-the-go charging, delivering the best possible consumer experience for UK motorists.”
Construction is already underway at four sites and Osprey’s first hub will open next month in Wolverhampton, adjacent to the A463 near the M6. Construction will commence on all of the first 10 hubs before the end of the year, with over 150 hubs consisting of 1,500 150-175kW chargers, opening on major transport routes, motorways, A-roads and popular destinations over the next four years.
Each rapid charger is capable of adding 100 miles of range in as little as 10 minutes and each hub will be located near food and drink amenities, allowing drivers to make use of the facilities while they charge their car. For example, Osprey’s first four hubs are adjacent to popular retailers including Costa Coffee, Lidl, Aldi, Pizza Hut, KFC and Curry’s PC World.
Graeme Cooper, head of future markets at National Grid, said: “The widespread transition to EVs means we need to rethink how we make, move and use energy. The power demand for charging will be significant, so it’s crucial that we use the cleanest and cheapest power in our cars and to make the most of each grid connection. By optimising power management at charging facilities, we can ensure a smooth transition away from petrol and diesel whilst maintaining a stable and effective electricity grid.”
