Scotland’s biggest ultra-rapid charging station opens in Hamilton
- Hamilton is Fastned’s latest station in Scotland and will be the first ultra-rapid charging station in South Lanarkshire.
- The new station - which is being officially opened by Transport Minister Jenny Gilruth MSP - is situated in the Palace Grounds Retail Park and has eight ultra-rapid chargers, supplied by 100% renewable energy, capable of adding up to 186 miles (300km) of range to all electric vehicles (EVs) in 15 minutes.
- The station responds to the Scottish Government’s call for a doubling of the number of public EV chargepoint to meet rising EV sales, as well as the need for greater investment from the private sector.
Fastned, the European rapid charging company, has opened its latest station in the Palace Grounds Retail Park in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire.
Located just off the A72 and near the M74, the station is Scotland’s biggest ultra-rapid charging station for EVs. The station comprises eight chargers, each of which is supplied by 100% renewable energy, and is capable of adding up to 186 miles (300km) of range to fully-electric cars in fifteen minutes.
The new station is Fastned’s latest in Scotland and tenth in the UK, and will serve the fast-growing community of EV drivers in the area. The new station opens as 1 in 10 new vehicles registered in Scotland throughout March were EVs, according to sales figures from New AutoMotive.
The station is an example of the approach outlined in the Scottish Government’s Draft Vision for Public Electric Vehicle Charging Networks –which aims to boost availability of charge points in Scotland by encouraging greater investment from the private sector.
The station was part-funded by the Scottish Government’s Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme – supported through the European Regional Development Programme – and showcases Fastned’s distinct driver-friendly design. A highly visible solar canopy helps EV drivers to locate the site and stay dry while charging. Reliable and easy-to-use ultra-rapid chargers, as well as a range of payment methods, mean drivers can charge with confidence and get back on the road as quickly as possible.
The investment supports the Scottish Government’s commitment to phase out the need for new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030 – which will improve air quality and respond to the climate emergency through decarbonisation at pace.
"I’m pleased to open Scotland’s biggest ultra-rapid charging station and welcome the commitment shown by Fastned to support our transition to electric vehicles.
"Through our draft vision for the public electric vehicle charging network, we’ve outlined that public and private sector partnerships will be key in attracting investment and scaling provision at pace. This new station from Fastned, with its striking design and powered by renewable energy, is a fantastic example of what can be delivered by industry.
"Scotland is very much at the forefront of the electric vehicle revolution and we are seeing impressive growth in uptake. We want to ensure that the public electric vehicle charging network keeps up with demand to meet the needs of people and businesses across the whole of Scotland.
"Companies like Fastned will have an increasingly important role to play in delivering our Net Zero ambition – bringing their expertise, resources, skills and investment. Its hub in Hamilton is a fantastic example of what can be done to further encourage people to realise the benefits of driving an electric vehicle.”
“Scotland has long been at the forefront of the UK’s transition to a greener future, and transport is no exception. We are delighted to be helping with this transition. Our new station, currently Scotland’s largest ultra-rapid charging station, will bring fast, reliable and easily accessible charging to the area.
"Part funded by the Scottish Government and European Regional Development Fund, the station demonstrates how a partnership between private investment and the public sector can deliver the infrastructure Scotland needs to realise its ambitious net zero goals.”
“It is essential that EV journey charger locations offering multiple simultaneous connections become as common as petrol filling stations across the country. The significant increase we are seeing in drivers switching to all-electric vehicles is incredible and so expanding the charging infrastructure in Scotland is vitally important to meet demand.
"The opening of facilities such as this will be yet a further incentive for owners of petrol and diesel powered vehicles to ignore the myths surrounding the lack of EV charge points and make the switch to all-electric. We are looking forward to seeing many more rapid charging stations installed across the country."
The electrical infrastructure that powers the station was designed, constructed and connected by Fulcrum.
Fastned has been developing rapid charging infrastructure for electric vehicles across Europe since 2012. Fastned’s mission is to accelerate the transition to sustainable mobility by giving freedom to electric drivers. Based in Amsterdam, the company has built 200 charging stations in the Netherlands, Germany, the United Kingdom, Belgium, France and Switzerland. The company specialises in developing and operating high power charging infrastructure where drivers can charge their electric vehicle with up to 186 miles of range in 15 minutes before continuing their journey. Fastned is listed on Euronext Amsterdam (ticker AMS: FAST).