Major electricity upgrade supports motorway EV rollout in North West
Completion of a major upgrade to the electricity network in the North West is paving the way for the rollout of rapid EV charging infrastructure across the region’s motorway services.
The work by Scottish Power owned distribution and transmission network operator SP Energy Networks is part of its £60 million Green Recovery Investment Project to support the transition to low carbon technologies.
The network upgrade will make give EV drivers greater confidence they can complete long journeys using the North West motorway network by creating additional electrical capacity to support 350 rapid electric vehicle charging points across Burtonwood, Hapsford, Knutsford, Lymm and Sandbach services.
The major infrastructure upgrade, says SP Energy Networks, will make an important contribution to the decarbonisation of car travel in the region. It is also an important step towards meeting Net Zero North West’s goal to be the UK’s first net zero region by 2040.
Regional disparities can mean electric vehicle chargers are often confined to the largest UK cities, so access to fast and reliable charging for long distance travel is vital to supporting the wider rollout of electric vehicles.
SP Energy Networks’ Chief Operating Officer, Guy Jefferson, said, “Getting our network ready for net zero means making sure the capacity needed to support greener technologies is in place ahead of rising demand. That’s what Green Recovery Investment is all about.
“The work we have completed across the five motorway service sites will help make low-carbon travel a reality for more and more people, supporting them to make the switch to electric transport.
“To make that a reality, we need to ensure we have the necessary capacity on the network, so what we’ve delivered is a real game-changer for the region, and will allow people to make that switch with confidence and support service providers in ensuring there is a reliable and resilient charging network available.
The upgrade work involved the installation of new electricity substations at the five sites and connecting these to the existing electricity network through new underground cables. SP Energy Networks worked closely with motorway service providers, as well as local communities, to deliver all work safely and efficiently.
Moto Chief Executive, Ken McMeikan added, “These network upgrades will be pivotal in helping us deliver on our commitment to supporting a more sustainable future of motoring, particularly as 2030 and the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars draws closer.
“Increased electrical capacity for Ultra-Rapid electric vehicle charging points at Moto Lymm and Moto Knutsford services will help us provide EV commuters up and down the country with the capacity, reliability, simplicity and charging speeds they require to travel longer distances throughout the North West and beyond.”