Summer getaway drivers forced to abandon new £1M charging points at service station after electricians fail to hook them up to power supply
Summer getaway drivers have been forced to abandon new £1million charging points at a service station after electricians failed to hook them up to the power supply.
The bank of 16 Tesla superchargers – which cost £1million to install – were not connected because the grid was not ready to cope with the demand.
Ken McMeikan, chief executive of Moto – that operates the Pease Pottage site near Gatwick – said the power was meant to be turned on at the start of July but will now be delayed until September 9, according to The Sunday Times.
The charging points are in seriously high demand – with 400,000 EV drivers set to be travelling around Britain this weekend alone.
Mr McMeikan said: ‘It will get worse before it gets better.
Summer getaway drivers have been forced to abandon new £1million charging points at a service station after electricians failed to hook them up to the power supply
The bank of 16 Tesla superchargers – which cost £1million to install – were not connected because the grid was not ready to cope with the demand
‘People keep talking about the number of chargers, but I keep talking about the amount of power that is available to actually turn those chargers on.’
It comes after 24 Gridserve and 24 Tesla chargers at Medway services in Kent were supposed to be operational in May, but the power will not be turned on until December.
Meanwhile projects have been postponed at Birch, near Rochdale, and at Lancaster services due to deadline for preparation work being missed.
Near Exeter Moto wanted a service station to have 56 chargers for this weekend but has ended up with 33.
Mr McMeikan said: ‘If you think about the amount of fuel we supply through petrol forecourts that we are replacing with electricity, I genuinely don’t think that the grid and the regional operators have really understood how much electricity is required and how quickly.’
The charging points are in seriously high demand – with 400,000 EV drivers set to be travelling around Britain this weekend alone
In a bid to help the issue Mr McMeikan now hopes to develop solar farms on land adjoining twelve motorway service stations, in locations such as Reading and Wetherby.
A spokesperson for UK Power Networks told The Sunday Times: ‘In order to complete the works a number of consents are required, and we are working with the relevant statutory authorities and other parties to ensure the works are completed as soon as possible.’
MailOnline has contacted UK Power Networks for comment.
