UK’s first EV charging “gigahub” opens at the NEC

Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt this month opened the UK’s largest public electric vehicle (EV) charging hub on the NEC Campus in the West Midlands.

Gigahub, a collaboration of bp pulse, The EV Network and NEC Group, provides 16 ultra-fast, 300KW DC charging bays and 150 7KW AC charging bays. Accessible bays are available for both types of charger.

The slower chargers are broadly aimed at the seven million visitors who come to the NEC Campus annually, while the ultrafast bays will support the passing road users that make up the area’s average yearly traffic count of 60 million. The Gighub is less than 1 mile from junction 6 on the M42 and 2.4 miles from junction 7A for the M6.

The Chancellor said, “The ground-breaking site will be a major transport hub for the future and marks a significant step in our rollout of electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the country. This is the biggest private investment in electric charging in the UK and is a huge vote of confidence in Britain’s role as a leader in green industries.”

The EV Network, as investor for the multimillion-pound project, designed, developed, and constructed the charging hub after signing a long-term contract with the NEC Group to bring EV charging infrastructure to the entire campus. It has already been working with charge point operator bp pulse on several projects launched throughout 2023.

As the site operator, bp pulse’s involvement ensures the appropriate charging experience for its customers – “delivering the right charging speeds, in the right locations”.

The NEC Group’s strategic involvement provides the essential foundation for the project –

land. The locational benefits of its real estate at the heart of the national motorway network, make it “the ideal space to accommodate the UK’s largest EV charging hub”. 

Paul Thandi, Chairman of NEC Group, said, “We are proud to contribute to the UK Government’s Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy. Working in collaboration with EVN and bp pulse, the opening of our EV charging hub provides NEC Campus customers, commuters, and those working for local regional or national businesses, a reliable and convenient way to recharge and support a lower carbon travel future.

“This strategic collaboration and initiative strengthen our destination offer, demonstrate our commitment to reducing the impact our business practices and our Masterplan credentials have on the environment, and ultimately supports a reduction in carbon emissions.”

Akira Kirton, vice president of bp pulse UK, said, “This new, nationally significant charging hub at the heart of the UK’s road network, is another great example of our strategy in action. We plan to roll out hundreds of hubs this decade in places EV drivers need them –

urban areas, on trunk roads and motorways and at destinations such as restaurants, retail parks and hotels.”

Reza Shaybani, CEO, and co-founder of the EV Network, said, “The launch of the UK’s largest Gigahub is a massive game changer. EVN has already built dozens of sites across the UK, but the successful completion of this new project launches us onto a much more ambitious growth path, as the leading business in our sector with a range of exciting new partners."

“The NEC was a perfect location that is not only geographically key, but of national significance, to support the EV charging landscape. EVN secured 6.5MVA grid connection, to support the entire infrastructure. The strategic placement and impressive scale of this charging hub within the UK’s transport infrastructure offers reassuring support to drivers journeying between cities.

“Our long-term relationship with both the NEC Group and bp pulse ensures this is not just an investment for the site’s visitors but a transformative step towards bolstering the entire EV charging infrastructure of the UK. “At EVN we are excited to invest £100M in EV Infrastructure projects this year, and we aim to invest a further £300M equity by 2025.”

Alexander Walsh, Senior Managing Director at Blackstone, said, “Blackstone has been invested in the NEC since 2018, and this development demonstrates the positive impact private investment can have in driving innovation and creating green jobs, and we’re proud to be backing the industries of the future in the West Midlands and beyond that are helping build a more sustainable future. Sites like this play an important role in supporting the UK’s energy transition.”