Instavolt starts work on battery power for motorway chargers

Charging operator Instavolt has begun work on the UK’s first motorway hub with on-site battery storage connected directly to its chargers.

The groundbreaking project has got underway at the Welcome Break Corley Services on the M6 and aims to ease pressure on the National Grid while delivering dependable ultra-rapid charging.

The initiative will see two large battery storage units installed on either side of the key north-south motorway. These will store energy on-site and distribute it directly to Instavolt’s chargers. The operator says that the setup will allow for a smaller grid connection while maintaining more consistent ultra-rapid charging speeds at times of high demand.

The work will also see the existing 62.5kW chargers upgraded to Instavolt’s latest 160kW units. Eight devices will be installed on the northbound side and a further seven installed on the southbound site.

In the coming weeks similar work adding battery storage will get underway at 12 more Instavolt locations, starting with sites in North Wales and Eastbourne.

Delvin Lane, CEO of Instavolt, said: “We’re the first to be able to provide this kind of battery storage system on a motorway network. This transformative project represents another important milestone for Instavolt and for the UK’s public charging infrastructure.

“We’re demonstrating how smart energy management can deliver reliable ultra-rapid charging while reducing pressure on the grid. It’s innovation like this that will help ensure EV charging remains scalable, sustainable, and ready for the next wave of electric vehicles.”

John Diviney, CEO of Welcome Break, added: “At Welcome Break, we’re proud to be leading the way in transforming motorway services for the future. This development reflects our ongoing commitment to delivering a seamless and reliable EV charging experience for all drivers.”

In 2023, National Highways began testing large-scale battery storage as a means to support motorway EV charging during times of peak demand. Last year it also began experimenting with “kinetic” battery systems that can store energy at times of low demand then release it quickly to maintain charging power when demand is high.