SSE Energy Solutions has kicked off plans for a major electric vehicle (EV) charging network across the UK. It has announced a significant new partnership with global commercial real estate investor, asset manager and business builder, Oxford Properties and its pan-European portfolio company M7 Real Estate (M7).
The SSE plans to build 300 EV charging bays powered by traceable, renewable energy by 2027. The first hub is set to launch in September at Castlebank, Glasgow. This will help meet the increasing demand for a UK EV infrastructure upgrade following the UK Government’s commitment to end the sale of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles from 2030.
A recent report from the Climate Change Committee shows the rise of electric cars is outpacing Government growth projections and that infrastructure deployment needs to accelerate to meet the target of 300,000 public charge points in 2030.
As part of SSE’s overall EV network strategy, this new deal aims to deliver new EV sites with up to 12 bays each at 20 of Oxford’s retail warehousing parks across the UK within 24 months, with the ability to recharge an estimated two million vehicles annually. The parks are asset managed and operated by M7 on behalf of Oxford.
Most bays will have ultra-rapid charging capabilities of up to 150kW. These allow drivers to resume their journey within 20 to 40 minutes of plugging in. This is a significant time saving compared to the widely used 50kW charger which takes around two hours to charge a 90kWh car battery.
This is good news and much needed across the UK as sales of electric vehicles have soared and infrastructure has struggled to keep up. This will not only support the electric vehicles currently on the road but will help speed the transition to driving electric.
Kevin Welstead, SSE Energy Solutions EV Sector Director, said: “It is vital that we face the EV infrastructure challenge head-on if we are to meet our ambitious decarbonisation targets. We must ensure that drivers are able to access EV charging points easily and conveniently.
“Retail locations provide a perfect solution; people can simply plug in their vehicle while they shop and return to a fully charged car thanks to our ultra-rapid facilities. M7 and Oxford share our social values and determination to beat climate change.
“Their forward-thinking partnership with us is exactly the kind of collaborative approach we need landowners across the UK to consider. M7 understands that the time to act is now, and we look forward to continuing our work with them.”
Josh Tyler, Ssset Manager at M7, said: “With customers placing increasing importance on ensuring that the businesses and services they use share their sustainability goals, we understand it is critical that our retail parks are as green as possible.
“It is important to us and our occupiers that we are able to provide the customer with the best possible EV charging experience, working with SSE was an easy decision for us due to their commitment to renewables and proven track record on decarbonisation strategy.”
