EVs: Moto and WPD trial ‘capacity in a box’ rapid charging solution

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Western Power Distribution and Moto service stations are trialling new rapid charging technology that they think could cut costs by around £500k per site.

The DNO says its kit also should also make installation quicker and easier.

Under the £1m project, dubbed ‘Take Charge’, WPD says it will deploy a standardised pre-constructed and pre-packaged ‘one size fits all’ solution that will provide up to 20MVA of capacity – enough to charge multiple cars at peak times.

The DNO says the project will also develop space saving “plug and play” components  that can quickly deliver capacity for up to 40 rapid chargers per site.

WPD and Moto aim to start the six month trial at Moto’s Exeter service station by March 2021. If it proves a success, WPD calculates the technology could shave more than £30m off the cost of a national rollout, if installed across 75 per cent of motorway service stations.

“Government and industry have long identified the importance of making widespread rapid charging available at service stations. If we are to encourage the take up of EVs, we need to make charging in all scenarios easier and quicker,” said WPD’s DSO development manager Paul Jewell.

“Our Take Charge project provides a ready-made solution for the installation of rapid chargers at service stations. Not only will the project cut costs, but it will make the installation of rapid chargers easier across the whole of the UK.

Moto chief executive Ken McMeikan said the firm is “delighted” to be involved in the project.

“The pace that motorists are going to switch to electric vehicles is only going to increase and we aim to transform their experience through the addition of even faster chargers across our sites,” he added.

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