Opcharge, one of the leading charge point operators in The Netherlands, has announced its entry into the UK market with the opening of its first electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at the Diocese of Oxford head office. This marks the beginning of Opcharge’s mission to grow substantially in the UK’s public charging network by 2030.
Located at the head office of Diocese of Oxford, one of the largest in the Church of England with over 800 churches and 285 church schools across the UK, these charge points will be used by staff and visitors to charge their vehicles while undertaking Church business.
Work-based chargers are a vital solution to the EV charging infrastructure and this hub will drive forward the reduction of the Diocese carbon footprint and form part of their plan to reach net zero by 2035.
Rt Rvd Dr Steven, CroftBishop of Oxford, said: “The target of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees is already slipping away from us. Society has only a limited time to act but we should be in no doubt whatsoever that there is a strong and deep possibility of change if we act now.
“The Church of England can play a key part in the journey to net zero through example and leadership, but this must be through actions as well as through our words. The installation of new EV chargers at Church House Oxford is another step on our journey towards net zero carbon emissions.”
The entry into the UK market for Opcharge comes at a crucial time as the UK government has set an ambitious target of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. As more consumers adopt electric vehicles, the demand for reliable and sustainable charging solutions will continue to grow and Opcharge is planning to be a key player in the EV charging market with “Green the City” as their slogan suggests.
Opcharge was founded in 2018 in the Netherlands and has since then grown to be a key player in the public charging market. In early 2022, they announced investment from one of the largest single-family offices in the Netherlands, providing the financial support to rapidly expand their portfolio both nationally and internationally.
Opcharge are experts in destination and public charging with fully funded charging solutions for organisations and local authorities across the UK, whereby they facilitate the installation, maintenance and ongoing costs of the EV charging points.
Thomas Herbert, Opcharge UK managing director, said: “We are thrilled to be entering the UK market with our first EV charge points at the Diocese of Oxford. At Opcharge we are passionate about the importance of having an accessible and convenient public charging network for everyone.
“As a company dedicated to promoting sustainability and innovation, we believe that charge point operators play a key role in the future of transportation within the UK, to encourage the adoption of electric vehicles at the rate required to reach net zero goals.”
With this launch also comes an exciting strategic partnership between Opcharge and Compleo in the UK. The 22kW Compleo AC chargers being installed at the Diocese of Oxford are among the most advanced charging stations available today. They feature a sleek and modern design, a user-friendly interface and can be operated single-handedly so are ideal for all drivers. They offer fast charging speeds allowing staff and visitors alike the ability to quickly charge their vehicles and get back on the road.
Valentin Scheltow, Compleo UK CEO, said: “We’re really proud to support Opcharge in their entry to the UK market. By working together with the Oxford Diocese it’s enabled three Oxfordshire-based businesses to come together to accelerate the rollout of EV Charging and improve air quality for all of our communities.”
Opcharge is planning to continue its ambitious expansion into the UK market in the coming months with the installation of EV charging stations at multiple sites across the country.