Source, the TotalEnergies and SSE joint venture that’s working to launch 300 ultra-rapid charging hubs across the UK and Ireland, has opened its first site.

L-R: Deepa Chandrasekaran, MD at Source, and Stuart Jackson, EV policy team leader at Transport Scotland. Credit: Chris Watt Photography

Located at Ocean Terminal in Edinburgh, the 12-bay flagship hub is now officially ‘powered up’ ahead of opening to the public on 6 May,

The launch signals Source’s intent to reshape the EV charging experience, making it “smarter, faster and truly customer centric”.

The site features six 160kW chargers which could allow users to ‘charge and go’ in around 15 minutes.

Already home to the Royal Yacht Britannia, Ocean Terminal’s redevelopment includes 530 new homes and major retail tenants such as Tesco and sets the perfect stage for Source’s arrival.

Further sites will follow over the JV’s five-year roadmap; all featuring “cutting-edge” interfaces and contactless payments along with round-the-clock customer service.

The hubs will be powered by renewable energy and the latest infrastructure from SSE, including its compact substation, along with technology from TotalEnergies.

Deepa Chandrasekaran, managing director at Source, said: “The EV industry has reached a turning point, and we’re here to lead it into uncharted territories. At Source, we’re not just building charge points, we’re building confidence. Our ambition is to capture 20% of the UK and Ireland’s ultra-rapid market by delivering hubs that are easy to find, easy to use and built for the future.”

The opening of the new site has been greeted by local business WarmWorksa. The Leith-based home energy efficiency firm has a fleet of 45 vehicles of which almost 70% are electric.

Andrea McKenzie, sustainable transport manager, WarmWorks, said: “As a fleet manager aiming to electrify our fleet fully, access to reliable rapid charge points is essential to our business. Charging Hubs like these build confidence that our drivers can recharge their cars when needed and be back on the road as soon as possible. My colleagues travel extensively throughout the UK and have shown a clear preference for visiting ultra-rapid charge points such as these, so it is great to see more become available close to our Edinburgh office.

“Knowing that these are powered by renewable electricity aligns well with our environmental goals and our ambition to be a net zero business by 2030.”