Chargepoint operator Gridserve has unveiled its first ‘Superhub’, so called because of the speed of electricity dispensed by the devices that comprise the facility.
A collaboration with motorway services operator Extra, the Superhub is an addition to the six existing Gridserve 50kW chargers featured at Beaconsfield Services off J2 of the M40.
The new Beaconsfield hub features six 400kW Alpitronic HYC 400 Hyperchargers – the first of these machines Gridserve has bought. Each device has a pair of leads, allowing up to 12 vehicles to recharge simultaneously.
Gridserve describes Italian chargepoint manufacturer Alpitronic, which has rapidly made a name for itself among firms offering EV charging, as being “known for its market-leading efficiency and reliability”.
While ultra-rapid machines often halve the speeds they dispense electricity at when two cars are charging, “dynamic power sharing” means the Alpitronics can deliver their full 400kW even when both a machine’s leads are in use. However, most current EVs charge at a far slower maximum speed, making these devices future proofed – although drivers may be wary of the effect regular ultra-rapid charging can have on a car’s battery over time.
The new installation is the first of seven Superhubs being rolled out across Extra’s MSA estate, with Cambridge, Cobham, Cullompton, Leeds Skelton Lake and Peterborough services all set to have similar facilities by late 2026. Extra’s Baldock services will also get a Superhub this year, joining the four HGV charging bays Gridserve recently opened there.
Rebecca Trebble, chief customer officer at Gridserve comments: “We’re proud to be working with Extra MSA on delivering the best possible EV charging experience for customers in an ever-evolving market. We also hope customers enjoy the Alpitronic HYC400 chargers, which remain plug in and pay simple while offering best-in-class charging speeds.
