Motorway services operator Moto has said it will install ultra-rapid chargers at all of its UK sites, starting first with its Rugby Services.

Moto’s Rugby site is said to be the largest ultra-rapid charging on the motorway

Opening tomorrow 30 April 2021, the Rugby site is said to be the largest ultra-rapid charging site on the motorway, featuring 24 ultra-rapid EV charging points, 12 Tesla & 12 Electric Highway.

The ultra-rapid 350kW direct current (DC) chargers will have the capability to add up to 100 miles of range in less than five minutes and will accept contactless payment.

The project is part of a multimillion investment programme to deliver EV charging to motorway services across the UK, and is the first high-power Electric Highway installation under the network’s new partnership with Gridserve, which saw the company take a 25% stake in the Highway to help transform EV charging facilities on Britain’s motorways ahead of the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel cars.

Moto is also planning a further 24 ultra-rapid charger locations at Reading, Thurrock, and Exeter by the end of 2021.

And 28 Moto sites are set to have ultra-rapid chargers by the end of this year. The aim is to have all Moto services with at least six ultra-rapid chargers by the end of 2022, as part of a long-term, £100m+ investment programme, including an upgrade to all existing 50kW chargers by the end of July 2021 for greater charging power ahead of increased ‘staycation’ traffic.

Ken McMeikan, chief executive of Moto, said: “Moto is committed to sustainable motoring and we want to play a key part in encouraging more people to have the confidence to switch into electric vehicles. Rugby Services is the most significant first step in achieving this and we’re proud to be launching the UK’s largest EV charging site.

“Our vision is to transform the UK’s rest stop experience and we think motorists will be delighted with the new Moto site at Rugby, particularly as they begin travelling again following easing of Covid-19 restrictions to see family, friends and loved ones.”

Dale Vince, founder of 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-powered 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.”