European rapid charging company Fastned has opened its latest UK charging hub in Scotland – at the Palace Grounds Retail Park in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire.
The new charging hub is Fastned’s latest in Scotland and tenth in the UK, and will serve the fast-growing community of EV drivers in the area. The new hub opens as 1 in 10 new vehicles registered in Scotland throughout March were EVs, according to sales figures from New AutoMotive.
The new charging hub, located just off the A72 and near the M74, is Scotland’s biggest ultra-rapid charging hub for EVs. The station comprises eight chargers, each of which is supplied by 100% renewable energy, and is capable of adding up to 300 miles of range to fully-electric cars in twenty minutes. The hub is an example of the approach outlined in the Scottish Government’s draft vision for public charging networks, which aims to boost the availability of charge points in Scotland by encouraging greater investment from the private sector.
The hub was part-funded by the Scottish Government’s Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme – supported through the European Regional Development Programme – and showcases Fastned’s distinct driver-friendly design. A highly visible solar canopy helps EV drivers to locate the site and stay dry while charging. Reliable and easy-to-use ultra-rapid chargers, as well as a range of payment methods, mean drivers can charge with confidence and get back on the road as quickly as possible.
“Scotland has long been at the forefront of the UK’s transition to a greener future, and transport is no exception. We are delighted to be helping with this transition,” said Tom Hurst, UK Country Manager and Network Development Manager for Fastned.
“Our new station, currently Scotland’s largest ultra-rapid charging station, will bring fast, reliable and easily accessible charging to the area. Part funded by the Scottish Government and European Regional Development Fund, the station demonstrates how a partnership between private investment and the public sector can deliver the infrastructure Scotland needs to realise its ambitious net zero goals.”
The investment supports the Scottish Government’s commitment to phase out the need for new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030, which will improve air quality and respond to the climate emergency through decarbonisation.
“I’m pleased to open Scotland’s biggest ultra-rapid charging station and welcome the commitment shown by Fastned to support our transition to electric vehicles,” said Transport Minister Jenny Gilruth MSP.
“Through our draft vision for the public electric vehicle charging network, we’ve outlined that public and private sector partnerships will be key in attracting investment and scaling provision at pace. This new station from Fastned, with its striking design and powered by renewable energy, is a fantastic example of what can be delivered by industry.
“Scotland is very much at the forefront of the electric vehicle revolution and we are seeing impressive growth in uptake. We want to ensure that the public electric vehicle charging network keeps up with demand to meet the needs of people and businesses across the whole of Scotland.
Fastned – which operates a growing network of rapid and ultra-rapid charging devices in the UK – recently became a Zap-Map Live data partner, meaning that all Fastned devices in the UK now show live status updates on the Zap-Map desktop and mobile apps, allowing users to see to-the-minute availability of charge points.
