Find out how one forecourt operator’s quest for the right EV Chargepoint Partner not only helped further enhance customers satisfaction, but has also led to a string of awards.
Westmorland stands out from the crowd in every sense. It was the UK’s first family-run motorway service area when it opened Tebay Services in 1972, and each of its locations and businesses - which include its award-winning Gloucester Services and Cairn Lodge Services in Lanarkshire - is specifically designed to champion its place, its people, its produce and its landscapes.
A key part of Westmorland’s mission was the pursuit of sustainable transport solutions and the roll out of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure across its portfolio. But the business wasn’t merely looking for a supplier, it needed an expert, long-term partner: “For us, adding EV charging to our sites was not a tick-box exercise, it’s something we’re incredibly passionate about and we had a clear vision for what we needed,“ explains Nabil Subuh, Westmorland CEO.
“We needed the right solutions, but fundamentally, it was more about finding the right partner who aligns with our values. We pride ourselves on delivering the very best experience to our customers, and we needed EV charging to reflect that and help to further enhance it, so the key was providing infrastructure that is as easy to use and reliable as possible.”
Assessing the EV market
Rather than undergoing a ‘traditional’ formal tender process, Subuh and the team wanted to get a better sense of the market first-hand and so combined research with visits to a number of EV events and trade shows.
Here they met Evolt Charging and there was an immediate rapport. After speaking with the Evolt team at length about Westmorland’s vision and their shared goal for an electric future, Evolt were selected to deliver the EV infrastructure roll out across Westmorland’s key locations. Since going live, usage of the chargers has been near constant, with Tebay regularly ranking as the most used site across the entire Evolt Network. “Evolt’s expertise and proven track record within the industry, as well as their customer service and maintenance offering, gave us confidence that they could provide a future-proof solution for us,” says Subuh.
To date, Evolt has installed 46 ultra-fast 150kW Touch Plus charging points equipped with contactless payment technology across five Westmorland sites. The chargers can each be easily upgraded to 200kW when ready to ensure compatibility with evolving EV power requirements and feature an impressive 32” touchscreen display that is easy for drivers to operate and take full control of their charger settings. The technology also provides Westmorland with a platform to promote its businesses and services directly to the end user.
Tools to bridge the energy gap
Of course, the roll-out has not been without its challenges. The availability and delivery of power is a familiar challenge confronting motorway service providers, particularly those in rural locations. Delays in getting some of the sites energised is an ongoing issue, but where possible, Westmorland and Evolt have avoided it becoming a blocker to progress by introducing innovative technologies to help bridge the energy gap.
In December 2023, for example, Westmorland in partnership with GeoPura, introduced the first-of-its-kind hydrogen-powered generator to integrate the EV chargers at Cairn Lodge Services with the hydrogen tech, to provide off-grid charging until a suitable electrical grid connection can be established. The generator is still in use today and Subuh is positive about its impact: “The hydrogen-powered generator has worked brilliantly at Cairn Lodge, providing an innovative solution that gives our customers a charging experience no different to a grid connected charger.”
Westmorland’s Tebay North services is also the first of seven motorway service sites across the UK to benefit from a large battery storage unit, installed by National Highways as part of its multi-million Energy Storage Systems investment project to upgrade power where the grid supply is insufficient. Evolt played a key role in ensuring the timely integration between the chargers and the storage system which is now live. It’s led to the installation of a further six Evolt charging points to enable Westmorland to meet increasing driver demand for reliable and convenient charger access at Tebay.
Charging infrastructure aligned to the needs of customers
As the collaboration between Westmorland and Evolt Charging continues to evolve, plans are underway for additional infrastructure and across additional sites. “Ideally, we’d like to add more chargers across all of our sites,” Subuh continues, “but currently it’s a question of power.
“We closely monitor driver feedback across all platforms on a weekly basis, paired with the analytics and usage data from Evolt, to get a better sense of how the EV charger roll-out is being received by our customers. The response has been incredibly positive so far, with drivers commenting on the ease-of-use and reliability of the chargers, which is the key for us.
“Our collaboration with Evolt has been fantastic, with they’re ongoing service and support helping to deliver a true partnership,” Subuh concludes.
And while the process is ongoing, the partnership is already being recognised within the industry for its leading approach to delivering EV charging infrastructure. At the EVIES 2024, held in early November, Westmorland was recognised with both the ‘Charging Destination of the Year’ and ‘Motorway Service Electrification of the Year’ awards, with the judging panel recognising and commending ‘Charging infrastructure aligned to the needs of their customers. The dedication to the user experience is very commendable and no doubt their customers appreciate this.’
For more information and to find out on how Evolt Charging can help ensure your business and drivers experience the very best in EV charging solutions, contact us at sales@evoltcharging.co.uk or visit evoltcharging.co.uk
