Last updated on December 2nd, 2021 at 10:17 am
Osprey Charging has opened a new UK-first dynamic charging hub in Wolverhampton today.
It is the first of more than 150 EV charging hubs to be delivered across the UK by Osprey Charging as part of a £75m nationwide rollout.
The site hosts four high power rapid chargers that can add up to 100 miles of range in around 10 minutes. There is a Costa Coffee available where drivers can then relax whilst they wait for their vehicle to charge.
The hubs are being installed to eliminate charging anxiety and to cater for the growing number of EVs projected to join the roads over the coming years.
A study by Midlands Connect forecasts that the number of EVs registered in the Midlands will increase by 3,000% from 45,000 vehicles currently to 1.7m by 2030. Meeting demand for charging will require a six-fold increase in the number of charge points, according to Osprey.
One factor contributing to this growth in EV take-up is the government’s Clean Air Zone initiatives and Ultra Low Emission Zones – which encourage drivers to move away from old polluting petrol and diesel vehicles to electric alternatives.
Chief executive of Osprey Charging Ian Johnston said: “Whether it’s gigafactories, EV manufacturing or Clean Air Zones, The West Midlands is leading the way on low carbon transport, cementing its role at the heart of the UK’s green industrial revolution.”
“The opening of our high-powered charging hub in Wolverhampton – the first of 10 in construction this year – once again puts the 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 will provide a blueprint for hundreds more right across the UK, meaning no waiting times for drivers and an overall outstanding customer experience.”
Osprey’s Wolverhampton hub is the first site to use a new technology by Kempower that enables multiple vehicles to be charged at once.
Charging power is distributed based on demand, which is important as battery charging capacity varies considerably between EV models.
Martin Pitt, a local EV driver, said: “I switched to an EV just over two years ago and haven’t looked back since – they are cheap to run, great to drive and importantly, cause much less harm to the environment than petrol and diesel vehicles. However, availability and ease of charging puts a lot of people off making the switch.
“Osprey’s new hub in Wolverhampton is great news for drivers in the Midlands and those en route. The sooner we have more projects like this, the better.”
All Osprey chargers are compatible with every rapid charging EV on the market and do not require a membership or subscription to start charging.