Work is underway at Gridserve’s first ultrarapid EV charging hub – based at Braintree, Essex – with the Electric Forecourt due to open this summer. Capable of charging up to 24 vehicles at the same time, Gridserve’s Electric Forecourts will offer 350 kW ultra-rapid charge points.

The site will include a two-storey building, due to house a facilities such as a coffee shop, mini supermarket, and airport-style lounge with meeting rooms, for drivers whilst they wait. The intention is for the hub to also act as an education centre for electric vehicles and sustainable energy.

Power for the sites will be from solar panels covering areas including the forecourt and shop, and from solar farms, with battery storage technology on site able to balance load and maintain supply.

The first site will be at Great Notley, just off the A131 near Braintree, which has links to Colchester, Chelmsford, Stansted Airport, and the M11. It has been supported by a £4.86 million grant from Innovate UK – one of the largest awarded last year.

The Braintree hub is one of more than 100 sites Gridserve has secured as part of a £1 billion project. All sites are along busy routes and near grid connections to urban centres and transport centres. Plans are to have a UK-wide network in place within five years.