Motor Fuel Group plans £400m investment in ultra-rapid chargers

Motor Fuel Group plans £400m investment in ultra-rapid chargers

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Zapmap
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Over the next ten years, Motor Fuel Group is planning to invest around £400 million in Ultra-Rapid 150kW and 350kW electric vehicle (EV) chargers across its UK network. MFG will install a total of around 3,000 ultra-rapid 150kW and 350kW EV chargers at roughly 500 sites by the end of 2030.

By developing ultra-rapid 150kW and 350kW EV charging hubs in strategic locations across the UK, MFG believes it is uniquely placed to alleviate range anxiety and increase drivers’ confidence in electricity as a fuel source, thereby improving adoption of EVs.

The planned investment will be made hand-in-hand with a broader upgrade programme, continuously upgrading its nationwide network of industry-leading travel retail destinations.

The MFG network

MFG has installed EV charge points at 108 of its sites through third parties. Alongside this existing network, MFG will self-fund, build, and operate its own EV charging hubs, to become a national charge point operator.

MFG hubs will consist of between four and eight ultra-rapid 150kW EV chargers per site. 150kW chargers can add 100 miles range in approximately 10 minutes, subject to the charging capability of individual car batteries. These will be augmented with 350kW chargers, as vehicle battery technology improves, to maintain the fastest charging times across the MFG network.  While these charging speeds are beyond the capability of most EV models currently on the market, MFG is investing ahead of the curve to build driver’s confidence in electricity as a fuel source.

In 2021, MFG will build EV charging hubs at an additional 40 sites, offering over 200 ultra-rapid 150kW EV chargers. The initial focus will be on major trunk roads and urban areas. From 2022 onwards, MFG plans to build at least 50 additional EV charging hubs per year. A significant number of these will be on the strategic road network.

William Bannister, CEO at MFG, commented:

“Our planned £400 million investment in this vital infrastructure will help keep UK motorists on the move, and our essential retail will support local communities and the economy. I am looking forward to engaging with the government to ensure this investment best meets the national EV infrastructure requirement to help us all make a contribution to ensuring Britain meets its net zero target by 2050.”