Moto calls for greater engagement from government and National Grid to meet energy demand
Motorway services operator Moto now has 211 ultra-rapid electric vehicle chargers available on its network following the opening of 12 new chargers at Moto Reading Westbound.
However in a statement marking the milestone, Moto chief executive Ken McMeikan warned that by 2030 EV charging will require 12 times more energy than we currently have.
Engagement, he said, from Government and the National Grid to help industry address the challenges was vital.
McMeikan commentated, “The electric vehicle revolution is well underway and is ushering in a new future of more sustainable transport. By 2040, we will need 10 times as many chargers to meet the projected increased demand.”
He said that while Moto is optimistic the challenge can be overcome, open discussions are needed. “Improving the UK’s energy mix and grid capacity will take leadership from businesses, commercial landlords, Government, DNOs and charging providers being brought to the table to collaborate on solutions.”
Since August 2021, access to charging points has increased by 34%, with the UK tally currently standing at nearly 34,000 public charging devices. However, despite industry efforts to invest in EV infrastructure, range anxiety and charging anxiety continue to be stumbling blocks in the transition to EV.
Moto’s roll-out aims to provide quicker and more convenient ultra-rapid chargers for the UK’s motorway network, where drivers are more likely to be travelling these longer distances.
Prior to the Reading launch, Gridserve and Tesla had added ultra-rapid chargers to 20 hubs on Moto sites and created the largest Superhub on the UK’s motorway at Moto Exeter Services, which has a total of 33 chargers.
With capacity to expand when future demand requires, the 12 new Gridserve chargers at Reading are supplied by renewable, net-zero carbon energy.
McMeikan said, “When we opened our first ultra-rapid EV Charging Hub at Moto Rugby, we knew it represented a major turning point in the feasibility of EV vehicle ownership – signalling the arrival of more accessible, more reliable and quicker on-the-go charging options. Now, just 18 months later, having over 200 such charge points across our network is a vast achievement. Together, with our partners, we have overcome significant planning, legal and infrastructure barriers to deliver a better charging experience for EV owners, as well as make the prospect of EV ownership more attractive.
”Work doesn’t stop here however. UK demand for EVs continues to grow and already accounts for almost a fifth of all new car sales. Our network-wide roll-out continues at pace to meet that demand and work towards our ambition to install more than 1,600 ultra-rapid chargers by 2030.”
Toddington Harper, CEO of Gridserve added “Gridserve is committed to delivering a charging network that is simple to use, reliable and provides a great customer experience. We are proud of the Super Hubs delivered in our partnership with Moto and we are committed to growing our UK-wide network of chargers alongside the growth of electric vehicles so that drivers have confidence to make the switch to electric, both today and as the number of vehicles increases in future.”
Recent projections from Moto predict that one in 25 cars on the road in 2023 will be EVs, one in 10 by 2025, one in 3 by 2030 and four in five by 2040.