Hitachi Capital invests £10m in electric forecourts

GRIDSERVE goes global with the GRIDSERVE Partner Network

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Zapmap
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GRIDSERVE has launched The GRIDSERVE Partner Network to open up the company’s ‘Sun-To-Wheel Ecosystem’ and deploy its electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure internationally. The ‘Ecosystem’ comprises hybrid solar & battery farms, EV charging infrastructure, and electric vehicle solutions.

The plans aim to speed up the global rollout of world-class EV charging infrastructure powered by net zero carbon sustainable energy in the shortest possible timeframes.

GRIDSERVE, which was recently awarded Chargepoint Network of the Year at the EVIES, also builds and operates hybrid solar & battery farms, which generate close to 100 million kWh’s of zero carbon energy each year, and also provide net zero carbon energy to the GRIDSERVE charging network.

“GRIDSERVE’s mission is to help deliver sustainable energy on the scale needed to move the needle on climate change,” said Toddington Harper, Founder and CEO of GRIDSERVE.

“In the UK we are delivering this vision at an extraordinary pace, building a Sun-to-Wheel ecosystem of hybrid solar & battery farms, high-power EV chargers, and electric vehicle leasing solutions supported by customer experience technology that is decarbonising the UK’s transport system and giving drivers everywhere the confidence to go electric sooner than anyone could have imagined only a few years ago.”

GRIDSERVE opened the first Electric Forecourt in December 2020 in Braintree, and plans to open several more in the next 12 months, starting with Norwich, Gatwick, Gateshead, and Uckfield.

Over 100 Electric Forecourts are planned to be built as part of a £1bn+ investment programme. More than 50 additional Electric Hubs, each featuring 6-12x 350kW chargers, are also being built across the UK in a separate £100m+ rollout, with the first site opened at Rugby Services earlier this year and several additional sites now also under construction.

gridserve's first electric forecourt in braintree

GRIDSERVE’s first Electric Forecourt in Braintree.

“Everything we have achieved in the UK has required us to overcome massive complexities and challenges – experience we’ve spent years developing. It’s now time to share those learnings with partners across the world and accelerate the shift to net zero transport,” Harper added.

“Our Partner Network allows us to do just that, enabling others to capitalise on our market leading EV charging solutions within their own networks and geographies.”

Supported by Hitachi Capital UK plc. and TPG’s The Rise Fund, GRIDSERVE has also invested millions of pounds into research and development to deliver and operate net zero electric charging infrastructure that is functional, reliable and easy to use. It has developed relationships with some of the world’s leading technology providers, including charging hardware providers ABB and Tritium.

GRIDSERVE believes that, despite considerable growth and success in the UK, a truly global rollout of EV infrastructure is the only way to decarbonise transport in the timeframes required to limit the worst effects of climate change.

“Our partnership with GRIDSERVE has been a total game-changer for electric mobility in the UK. Not only are we providing electric vehicles at some of the most competitive rates on the market, but we are at the same time developing a network of rapid, reliable and renewably powered EV charging infrastructure that will fast-track the electric vehicle revolution,” said Robert Gordon, CEO of Hitachi Capital (UK) PLC.

In addition to GRIDSERVE leasing land and investing its own capital in building and operating its own EV charging infrastructure, the Partner Network provides the opportunity for partners to invest themselves, or co-invest alongside GRIDSERVE, to establish their own EV charging networks in partnership with GRIDSERVE, providing the maximum flexibility without having to build an entire tech-enabled EV charging business.