£1.5m Roadchef charging project sees 100m drill under M1

Roadchef has aded six high-powered electric vehicle (EV) charging bays and three ultra-rapid chargers to its Northampton Northbound services, located on the M1 at Junction 15A on both north and southbound.

The new bays are served by three ultra-rapid Terra 360 chargers that will enable drivers to fully charge their vehicles in minutes. The installation overcame significant barriers and involved extensive  engineering work, including boring 100 meters directly under the M1 motorway using horizontal directional drilling to deliver the necessary power for the chargers. This project underwent months of planning and permissions, and was supported by an investment of over £1.5 million. 

Paul Comer, Director of EV implementation at Roadchef, commented: “The addition of these new charging bays at Northampton and significant investment into green infrastructure highlights our ongoing commitment to supporting sustainable travel and expanding the EV charging network across the UK. As the number of EVs on the road continue to rise we remain dedicated to providing the best experience for EV drivers and the modern roaduser.”