Electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions provider RAW Charging has acquired the ongoing operations of Franklin ahead of the parent company, Franklin Energy, being put into administration, for an undisclosed amount. The charging provider has also announced the launch of a new EV charging facility in Slough’s town centre.
In terms of the acquisition, RAW Charging has acquired 128 EV charging ports that were owned and managed by Franklin. The acquisition also includes a further 370 managed EV chargers. RAW has also acquired the LiFe Network, which controls the EV Chargers and will continue to provide access to its 10,000+ registered drivers.
The acquisition allows RAW to continue to grow its portfolio of AC and DC charging assets across the UK and Europe. RAW will take over the operation of Franklin’s EV chargers and integrate them onto its platform. The opportunity also allows RAW to provide a continuation of the management and rollout of EV chargers for Q Park and Aberdeen Standard, as well as the Merseyside and Sheffield Councils.
In addition, the acquisition builds on RAW’s previously announced partnerships with Greene King – in which RAW is installing charge points across 800 managed pubs and hotels – and McArthurGlen, where RAW is installing EV chargers at Designer Outlets across the UK and Europe.
“This opportunistic acquisition forms part of our growth strategy to rapidly build a portfolio of EV charging assets and take advantage of the transition to electric vehicles,” said Bruce Galliford, CEO, RAW Charging.
“RAW has a significant pipeline across the UK and Europe and with the addition of the Franklin assets and sales pipeline we are confident in rapidly scaling up to generate consistent returns from our chargers to fund future growth.”
What’s more, RAW Charging has also announced the launch of a new EV charging facility in Slough’s town centre. The company has installed eight DC chargers, capable of up to 300kW per port and four AC 22kW chargers, providing miles of charging power for customers.
The EV charging facility, which is two miles from Junction 6 of the M4, is located at The Urban Building on Albert Street, on a piece of previously disused land owned by Abrdn. Available to the public 24/7, the charging hub has space for 12 EVs to charge simultaneously.
RAW Charging hopes to pave the way in EV destination charging, giving the previously disused site a new lease of life. Through converting old and unused locations, RAW is bringing sites such as the one found on Albert Street back into sustainable use, offering vital EV charging for the communities in Slough.
“The EV Charging Hub in Slough is at the heart of the local community,” said Galliford. “The installation of 12 chargers at the site will provide a crucial EV charging service to those who live and work in Slough, with the chargers available 24 hours a day. We look forward to developing more sites like this across the UK in the future.”
