Osprey Charging unveils plans for more than 150 rapid charger hubs across UK

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FT Osprey Kempower 8-charger hub

Osprey Charging has unveiled plans to install more than 150 high-powered electric vehicle (EV) charging hubs across the UK by 2025.

A total of 1,500 150-175KW rapid chargers will be installed across the sites, which will be located on strategic A-roads and adjacent to motorways, to encourage motorists to switch to electric cars ahead of the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel cars.

The £75m rollout will involve new charger optimisation technology being deployed publicly for the first time in the UK. Kempower charging technology enables locations to host multiple rapid chargers on a single site without compromising on charging power or requiring expensive grid connections.

According to Osprey the technology has the potential to revolutionise EV charging deployment in the UK by intelligently load balancing to maximise the amount of charge that each vehicle receives. The Kempower technology will complement the Tritium charging hardware also being deployed on new sites by Osprey.

Ian Johnston, CEO of Osprey Charging, said: “The EV market is booming, with sales up over 117% year-on-year and EV adoption continuing to grow exponentially. In less than nine years’ time, buying a new petrol or diesel car will be impossible, so it’s crucial that public charging infrastructure stays ahead of the curve.

“Through this rollout we will make charging anxiety a thing of the past. High-powered, multi-charger hubs will herald a new era of public EV charging – enabling mass EV adoption and a clean transport revolution.

“Our rollout of hubs across the country’s major transport routes will ensure drivers are supported with convenient, reliable, on-the-go charging, delivering the best possible consumer experience for UK motorists.”

Tomi Ristimäki, CEO of Kempower, said: “We are extremely happy to launch Kempower EV charging solutions with Osprey Charging - a frontrunner in deploying EV charging technology and developing customer experience. The UK is one of Europe’s fastest-growing EV markets and we have the technology and expertise to accelerate this shift. The modularity of Kempower products ensures they have a small footprint, allowing our customers to make use of limited space in densely populated cities and choose solutions that drive meaningful electrification.”

Construction is already under way at four sites and Osprey’s first hub will open next month in Wolverhampton, adjacent to the A463 near the M6. Construction will commence on all of the first 10 hubs before the end of the year, with more than 150 hubs consisting of 1,500 150-175kW chargers, opening on major transport routes, motorways, A-roads and popular destinations over the next four years.

Each hub will be located near food and drink amenities, allowing drivers to make use of the facilities while they charge their car. For example, Osprey’s first four hubs are adjacent to retailers including Costa Coffee, Lidl, Aldi, Pizza Hut, KFC and Curry’s PC World.

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 smart phone.

Osprey Charging Network works in partnership with landowners to deliver fully funded and maintained rapid charging sites. The company works with organisations spanning the restaurant and hospitality sector, retail parks and local authorities to rollout rapid EV charge points across the UK. Its partners include Marston’s, Cardiff Council, London & Scottish Properties, Aberdeen Standard Investments, and Soccerworld.

Construction is starting on the first 10 hubs at the following locations in 2021: