Electric vehicle battery start-up Pivot Power has announced plans to build a 2GW network of rapid electric vehicle charging stations throughout the UK.
The company believes that the 2GW network of rapid electric vehicle charging stations will be a world’s first, and that it will provide vital infrastructure to support the broader rollout of electric vehicles in the UK. The UK government has already announced plans to ban sales of new diesel and petrol cars in 2040, and infrastructure to facilitate their replacement is urgently required.
The battery network is expected to be the world’s largest with 45 sites, and is expected to be able to store enough electricity to supply 235,000 average homes for a day, ensuring it will be capable to managing supply and demand during surges.
How will the project work?
Pivot Power has already selected 45 sites around the country in which to install grid-scale 50MW batteries, connected directly to the National Grid’s high-voltage transmission system, to give the system operator a greater ability to manage supply and demand.
Sites have been chosen near major roads and cities, to allow them to power rapid electric vehicle charging stations directly from the transmission system, supporting up to 100 rapid 150KW chargers. Thanks to the number of sites, Pivot Power hopes to reduce range anxiety and encourage greater uptake of electric vehicles.
How have stakeholders responded to the announcement?
National Grid’s project director for electric vehicles, Graeme Cooper, welcomed the opportunity to collaborate with Pivot Power on the project, given the UK government’s overall commitment to improving electric vehicle and infrastructure availability.
He stated: “We expect the use of electric vehicles to grow rapidly. This innovative solution will help accelerate adoption by providing a network of rapid charging stations across the country enabling cars to charge quickly, efficiently and as cost-effectively as possible. It will also give the system operator more choice and flexibility for managing the demands in the day to day running of the network, and also help mass EV charging.”
