Hubber, the urban EV chargepoint start-up founded by three former Tesla employees, has launched its first of a planned network of urban ‘supercharger’ hubs, at Forest Hill, South London.
It has joined forces with chargepoint operator Raw Charging, which specialises in working in the leisure, hospitality and retail sectors, and which is leasing the land from the owners of the Dartmouth Arms pub at the front of the site.
From Wednesday (August 20) drivers will be offered free charging for a week at the 12-bay ultra-rapid hub, described by the duo of businesses as the newest and largest set-up of its kind in South London. Also, the first 25 drivers charging at the site each day will receive Meatliquor vouchers to use in the pub.
The site operates three 150kW and three 300kW chargers, serving 12 vehicles at any one time, including one priority bay, catering to rapid turnaround and high-volume usage.
Located on Dartmouth Road, 200 metres from Forest Hill Station, the hub is in the heart of one of Southeast London’s busiest commuter corridors. With 26% of Londoners commuting by car, the site provides critical infrastructure for EV drivers heading into central London, say the businesses.
Hubber, described as a specialist real estate and infrastructure platform, focuses on transforming underutilised urban property into next generation high-powered hubs, targeting taxi drivers, ride-hailing and private-hire vehicles, buses and delivery vans.
This first site benefits from customers being able to buy food and drink at the pub, and also from a next door Costa coffee business.
Raw Charging says that this initial site is the first of a “larger pipeline” planned for the collaboration.
Neil Broadbank, CCO at Raw Charging, says: “Forest Hill marks the first in a wave of RAW rapid hubs coming online at key London retail, leisure, and hospitality destinations over the next 12 months.
“Thanks to Hubber and their dynamic approach, we’re unlocking the development and energisation of these sites in record time, with this particular site being acquired, developed and constructed from start to finish in nine months.”
Harry Fox, co-founder and CEO of Hubber, adds: “Large, high-powered hubs like Forest Hill play a vital role in enhancing London’s fast, reliable charging network. We’re proud to deliver this in partnership with Raw and look forward to the long-term benefits this collaboration will bring to drivers and the city.”
