Moto has opened Rugby Services, its first new site in 14 years, to encourage ‘sustainable motoring’ and to help people to switch to EVs in the run up to the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030.
Drivers with compatible EVs stopping at Junction 1 of the M6 – the site of the largest EV charging service station on Britain’s motorways – will only need a five-minute recharge from the 350kW devices to gain up to 100 miles of range.
Motorists can pay contactless for the 12 Tesla Superchargers and 12 Electric Highway devices provided by Ecotricity and Gridserve.
A further 28 Moto sites across the country are due to have ultra-rapid chargers installed by the end of the year, while the company hopes all of its services will have at least six by the end of 2022.
This comes as part of a £100 million investment programme that includes an upgrade of its existing 50kW chargers by the end of July 2021 when staycation travels are expected to rise.
The new installations are part of the Electric Highway – the UK’s first nationwide charging network – a transformation programme funded in part by Gridserve investor Hitachi Capital.
Toddington Harper, CEO of Gridserve, said “After announcing our Electric Highway partnership with Ecotricity in March, and supported by Hitachi Capital (UK) PLC, we’ve been hard at work putting in the charging infrastructure needed to give people the confidence to make the transition to electric vehicles.”
Gridserve acquired 25% in the charging network and is now pledging their technical expertise to upgrading services infrastructure in the UK.
Reading, Thurrock and Exeter are among the 24 ultra-rapid charger locations planned to be ready by the end of the year.
Ken McMeikan, chief executive of Moto, said: “Moto is committed to sustainable motoring and we want to play a key part in encouraging more people to have the confidence to switch to electric vehicles.
“Rugby Services is the most significant first step in achieving this and we’re proud to be launching the UK’s largest EV charging site.
“Our vision is to transform the UK’s rest stop experience and we think motorists will be delighted with the new Moto site at Rugby, particularly as they begin travelling again, following the easing of Covid-19 restrictions, to see family, friends and loved ones.”
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Petrol and diesel car owners can still make use of a BP forecourt, as well as shops such as Marks & Spencer, Greggs, Costa Coffee, KFC, Pret a Manger, Burger King and WHSmith.
Rugby Services was originally mean to open in July 2020 but the date was pushed back until now due to the pandemic.
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