- The InstaVolt Winchester Super Hub offers 44 ultra-rapid chargers, spacious bays, and amenities, making EV charging more convenient.
- Running on 100% renewable energy with solar panels and battery storage, the hub ensures efficiency and supports larger vehicles.
- This privately funded project boosts EV adoption by providing fast, reliable, and accessible public charging without government support.
The InstaVolt Winchester Super Hub sets a new standard for public EV charging
Today marks the official opening of InstaVolt’s brand-new EV Super Hub in Winchester. This major charging site, located just off the A34 and near the M3, offers a glimpse into the future for electric travel in the UK. With 44 ultra-rapid chargers, it’s one of the largest EV hubs in the country.
We at ElectricDrives were keen to get an early look. I arrived last Friday morning, as the InstaVolt team were putting the final touches on the site. A bank of solar panels greets you on entry, with all 44 ultra-rapid chargers lying, covered and in wait, behind. With spacious bays, amenities, and the promise of 100% renewable energy, it’s clear to see that hubs like this are the future for the UK’s roads.
Fast, accessible, and 100% green
On top of the 100% renewable energy provided by Octopus, the Enviromena solar panels and cutting-edge battery storage system ensure the site is both efficient and sustainable. There’s space for trucks and large vans as well.
The layout is spacious and easy to navigate. Plus, all bays are fully accessible. While charging, drivers have easy access to the on-site café or kids play area.
InstaVolt’s Chief Executive Officer, Delvin Lane, showed us around, and explained how the site manages its power to protect the grid. When the 800 solar panels are producing energy, that will always be used first—directly from the sun into your car. Following this, over 30 tonnes of batteries will store renewable, clean energy for anytime use. That incredible battery storage system is the equivalent of 1.5 million AA batteries.
A step forward for EV travel
The opening of the Winchester Super Hub underscores a critical aspect of the electric vehicle revolution: the necessity of robust public charging infrastructure. As electric vehicle adoption accelerates, the demand for accessible and reliable charging stations becomes increasingly vital.
Public charging stations play a pivotal role in alleviating EV anxieties. The availability of comprehensive, reliable, and ultra-fast chargers is critical in accelerating the transition to emobility and addressing the concerns of potential EV buyers.
InstaVolt’s initiative is a significant step toward addressing these challenges. They provide ample, fast, and green charging options, meeting current demands and paving the way for future EV adoption. Having only begun operations in 2016, InstaVolt’s achievement in Winchester is something to be marvelled at.
What’s more, InstaVolt constructed the hub using entirely private funding. This is part of the company’s ethos that governmental grants and incentives should be saved for the people, rather than the corporations. The impetus behind this hub is the classic—build it and they will come. The industry will look after the charge points as a strong investment in the future. Now, we need everyone to be able to buy and use EVs to make it all worthwhile and propel real environmental change.
The Winchester Super Hub is a testament to EV charging progress. It offers a glimpse into a future where EV charging is as convenient and ubiquitous as traditional refuelling stations.
