Osprey Charging has opened the first of more than 150 EV charging hubs it is planning to deliver across the UK in a £75m programme.
The site hosts four high power rapid chargers that can add up to 100 miles of charge in just 10 minutes. Located adjacent to the A463, the hub will serve major transport routes in the area that see more than 130,000 vehicles pass by daily, and has a Costa Coffee on-site, allowing drivers to relax and make use of their facilities while they charge.
Ian Johnston, CEO of Osprey Charging, said: “The opening of our high-powered charging hub in Wolverhampton – the first of 10 in construction this year – once again puts the [West Midlands] region at the leading edge of innovation, marking a step-change in the UK’s EV infrastructure as we accelerate towards mass adoption of EVs. The site, which deploys multiple high-powered chargers, will provide a blueprint for hundreds more right across the UK, meaning no waiting times for drivers and an overall outstanding customer experience.”
Osprey claims the hub is the first site in the UK to deploy new technology – Kempower – which enables more locations to host multiple high-powered chargers on a single site.
Kempower chargers work together to optimise charging across multiple vehicles when more than one EV is plugged in. They allow power to be distributed based on demand, which varies significantly between individual vehicles due to the maximum charging rate of each model and its battery percentage at the point of charge.
This can reduce waiting times significantly, maximising the speed and availability of chargers for drivers, and increasing consumer footfall for the landowners hosting the hubs.
The technology also means grid connections can be optimised, allowing multiple high-power chargers to be installed per site and offering higher charging speeds without the need for more grid power. The physical footprint of each charger is also reduced by 74%, allowing space for more chargers, improving accessibility and reducing their visual impact to support planning permission.
Osprey’s £75m UK-wide EV charging hub rollout envisages a total of 1,500 150-175KW rapid chargers installed across 150 sites nationwide over the next four years. Each hub will be located on strategic A-roads and adjacent to motorways, hosting up to 12 high powered chargers.
All Osprey chargers are compatible with every rapid charging EV on the market today and do not require a membership or subscription to initiate charging. Drivers can simply tap their contactless bank card or smartphone.
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