New 1,100km rapid charging network completed

A new rapid charging network that covers over 1,100km across the British Isles has now been completed.

The ‘Rapid Charge Network’ features 74 rapid chargers, that are capable of charging a typical electric vehicle (EV) battery to 80 per cent in 30 minutes, which are located on major routes across the UK.

The €7.4 million network was been co-funded by the European Union and four major vehicle manufacturers: Nissan, BMW, Renault and Volkswagen, alongside Irish energy company ESB.

It spans over 1,100km of motorways and dual carriage ways, as well as connecting busy transport hubs such as airports and ferry ports, which aim to allow drivers to take their cars beyond domestic borders and into mainland Europe.

The network will be operated by ESB in Ireland and Ecotricity in the UK, who will provide power to all of the charging stations. The Rapid Charge Network comes as part of a larger European investment of €26.3 million, which has also been implemented in Austria, Slovakia, Slovenia, Bavaria, Zagreb, France, Denmark, Sweden and Germany.

Olivier Paturet, Zero Emission Strategy, Nissan Europe and lead partner for the project, said: “The Rapid Charge Network is the backbone of a UK-wide electric vehicle infrastructure. Now motorists can go further, faster in their EVs, we’re confident our network will accelerate awareness and uptake of these vehicles by consumers and businesses across the country.”

A spokesperson from Volkswagen UK said: “We, and our electric vehicle customers, will welcome the development of a network of multi-standard charge points. Each charge point on the network is compatible with all standard EVs on sale today, taking away the element of confusion for drivers and providing reassurance that they can rapid charge regardless of make or model.”

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