Gridserve

Gridserve has business activities across three key sectors: solar energy, electric vehicle charging and electric vehicle leasing. Together, these make up the company's Sun-to-Wheel ecosystem.{{Cite web |last=Hill |first=Joshua S. |date=2022-08-11 |title=Sun-to-wheel charging supplier and mapping service land funds for expansion |url=https://thedriven.io/2022/08/12/sun-to-wheel-charging-supplier-and-mapping-service-land-funds-for-expansion/ |access-date=2023-05-12 |website=The Driven |language=en-US}}

The company owns and operates photovoltaic power stations, also known as hybrid solar farms, supplying renewable electricity to the National Grid. Onsite batteries allow more efficient energy storage and release. Some of the solar modules are bifacial, allowing them to harvest energy from both sides of the panel.{{cite web |date=25 November 2020 |title=Grid Power Technology |url=https://gridserve.com/grid-power-technology/ |access-date=25 January 2021 |website=GRIDSERVE}} {{As of|2023}} Gridserve has installed over 240,000 bifacial solar panels generating 62GWh of solar energy annually.{{Cite web |last=GRIDSERVE |date=2020-10-01 |title=GRIDSERVE {{!}} Hybrid solar farms |url=https://www.gridserve.com/energy/power-everything/ |access-date=2023-05-09 |language=en-US}} This includes a site at Clay Hill in Bedfordshire - one of the UK's first subsidy-free solar farms{{cite news |last1=Ambrose |first1=Jillian |date=7 December 2020 |title=UK's first all-electric car charging forecourt opens in Essex |language=en |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/07/uk-first-all-electric-car-charging-forecourt-opens-in-essex |access-date=25 January 2021}} - and sites in Hull and York totalling 60.4MW generating power for Warrington Borough Council.{{Cite web |title=Gridserve Warrington Borough Council |url=https://www.socialandsustainable.com/portfolio/gridserve/ |access-date=2023-05-09 |website=Social and Sustainable Capital |language=en-GB}}

In addition, Gridserve installs and operates a network of electric charging hubs, with over 540 chargers in 165 locations claiming to add 10 million miles worth of electric vehicle charge (as of December 2022).{{Cite web |last=Finnerty |first=Joe |date=2022-12-28 |title=GRIDSERVE {{!}} Over 100 High Power chargers installed in 2022 |url=https://www.gridserve.com/pressroom/over-100-high-power-chargers-installed-in-2022/ |access-date=2023-05-09 |language=en-US}} Operating large multiple-charger 'Electric Super Hubs' in motorway service locations, Gridserve has 142 'High Power' chargers delivering up to 350 kW of EV charging power as well as two of its own electric forecourt sites in Braintree and Norwich with 35 High Power chargers between them.{{Cite web |last=Martin |first=Lauren |date=2023-04-06 |title=GRIDSERVE {{!}} GRIDSERVE opens two new Electric Super Hubs in the North East |url=https://www.gridserve.com/pressroom/gridserve-opens-two-new-electric-super-hubs-in-the-north-east/ |access-date=2023-05-09 |language=en-US}} Gridserve has agreed a partnership with Paua, who provide electric vehicle charge cards, for access to their charging sites.{{Cite web |last=Riddell |first=Niall |date=2023-06-22 |title=Paua and GRIDSERVE join forces to expand access to sustainable EV charging |url=https://www.pauatech.com/news/72171758564 }}

Through Gridserve Car Leasing, the company acts as a vendor and comparison site for the leasing of electric vehicles, with 100 trees planted for every car leased.{{cite web |title=How Electric Vehicles Work |url=https://www.gridserve.com/electric-vehicles-how-it-works/ |website=GRIDSERVE |access-date=25 January 2021 |date=5 October 2020}} Leased EV customers have the full cost of charging at Gridserve locations for three months covered.{{Cite web |title=Electric Car Leasing {{!}} EV Lease Deals {{!}} GRIDSERVE |url=https://www.gridserve.com/electric-leasing/ |access-date=2023-05-09 |website=www.gridserve.com |language=en}}

In August 2024, Gridserve's founder Toddington Harper announced plans to expand the business internationally under the name Gridserve Global. To focus on this, he was succeeded as executive chairman by Roy Williamson.{{cite news |last1=Middleton |first1=Natalie |title=Gridserve plans global expansion to drive ‘world-class’ EV charging networks |url=https://evfleetworld.co.uk/gridserve-plans-global-expansion-to-drive-world-class-ev-charging-networks/ |access-date=13 October 2024 |work=EV Fleet World |date=13 August 2024}}

File:GRIDSERVE Braintree forecourt.png

In advance of the UK mandatory phase-out of fossil fuel vehicles by 2030{{cite news |last1=Ambrose |first1=Jillian |title=UK plans to bring forward ban on fossil fuel vehicles to 2030 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/sep/21/uk-plans-to-bring-forward-ban-on-fossil-fuel-vehicles-to-2030 |access-date=25 January 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=21 September 2020 |language=en}} and anticipated mass adoption of electric vehicles, Gridserve is developing a countrywide network of customer-focused forecourts that provide ultra-fast electric vehicle charging services and associated retail. Revenue and profitability are designed to derive from electricity grid balancing services and the provision of solar energy generation. However, the company pointedly does not call them service stations; the planned forecourts are intended to serve local communities, like petrol stations do, rather than serving passing trade on motorways. Facilities include convenience stores, office 'pods', exercise bikes to power the site, a children's play area and shower facilities.{{cite news |last1=Page |first1=Felix |title=What's it like at the UK's first bespoke electric car forecourt? |url=https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/features/whats-it-uks-first-bespoke-electric-car-forecourt |access-date=25 January 2021 |work=Autocar |date=7 December 2020 |language=en}}

Gridserve also offers a test drive programme at its operating forecourts. A fleet of the latest electric cars is offered to potential leasing customers with the option of booking back-to-back test drives of different models online or at the forecourts. The company's 'EV Gurus' offer impartial knowledge and recommendations, and the latest leasing offers are available to select through touchscreen displays.{{Cite web |last=GRIDSERVE |date=2022-07-13 |title=GRIDSERVE {{!}} EV test drive programme launches at GRIDSERVE Electric Forecourts® |url=https://www.gridserve.com/pressroom/ev-test-drive-programme-launches-at-gridserve-electric-forecourts/ |access-date=2023-05-10 |language=en-US}}

The first site of the planned network was opened on 7 December 2020 next to the A131 in Great Notley, near Braintree, Essex, receiving national media attention. It is paired with the solar farm at Clay Hill to rapidly charge up to 36 vehicles with 100% renewable electricity. 20 minutes charging with the 350 kW chargers can give a customer up to 200 miles of range. The site also contains a 6 MWh battery - which can store enough energy for {{convert|24000|miles}} of EV driving - to balance energy resources, shifting it to move valuable periods to keep prices low.{{cite news |date=7 December 2020 |title=GRIDSERVE opens UK's first Electric Forecourt® to support mass market EV charging and make EVs less expensive than petrol or diesel alternatives |language=en |work=Hitachi Capital UK |url=https://www.hitachicapital.co.uk/news-media/gridserve-opens-uk-s-first-electric-forecourt-to-support-mass-market-ev-charging-and-make-evs-less-expensive-than-petrol-or-diesel-alternatives/ |access-date=25 January 2021}} Retailers at the site include WHSmith, Costa Coffee and the Post Office. It was funded by Hitachi Capital UK, Innovate UK and the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV).

In October 2022, the Braintree electric forecourt began trialling a new 360 kW High Power charger called the ABB Terra 360. Able to supply up to 62 miles of range in three minutes, the new charger also offers dynamic dual-charging - allowing two cars to plug in and charge simultaneously.{{Cite web |last=GRIDSERVE |date=2022-10-30 |title=Braintree Electric Forecourt® begins next-gen EV charger trials |url=https://www.gridserve.com/2022/10/30/braintree-electric-forecourt-begins-next-gen-ev-charger-trials/ |access-date=2023-05-10 |language=en-US}}

A second electric forecourt with a smaller footprint opened outside Norwich on 21 April 2022.{{cite news |last1=Grundy |first1=Alice |title=GRIDSERVE unveils new compact design with opening of Norwich Electric Forecourt |url=https://www.current-news.co.uk/news/gridserve-unveils-new-compact-design-with-opening-of-norwich-electric-forecourt |archive-date=21 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220421133200/https://www.current-news.co.uk/news/gridserve-unveils-new-compact-design-with-opening-of-norwich-electric-forecourt |access-date=21 April 2022 |work=Current |date=21 April 2022 |language=en-gb}} Located in Postwick where the A1270 meets the A47, the site includes 36 chargers with 22 of those 350 kW-capable High Power chargers, as well as rentable office pods, washrooms, a dedicated electric car showroom and retailers such as M&S Food, Costa and WHSmith.{{Cite web |last=GRIDSERVE |date=2022-08-02 |title=GRIDSERVE {{!}} Norwich |url=https://www.gridserve.com/electric-vehicle-charging/electric-forecourt/norwich/ |access-date=2023-05-10 |language=en-US}} One year on from opening the Norwich site has delivered more than two million miles worth of battery charge to EVs.{{Cite web |last=GRIDSERVE |date=2023-04-21 |title=GRIDSERVE {{!}} Earth Day 2023: A year at Norwich Electric Forecourt® |url=https://www.gridserve.com/2023/04/21/earth-day-2023-one-year-at-the-norwich-electric-forecourt/ |access-date=2023-05-10 |language=en-US}}

Further Gridserve electric forecourt due to open include a Gatwick Airport site (located on the Ring Road South Approach to the airport's south terminal), which is scheduled to go live in summer 2023.{{Cite web |last=GRIDSERVE |date=2022-11-07 |title=GRIDSERVE {{!}} London Gatwick Electric Forecourt® |url=https://www.gridserve.com/electric-vehicle-charging/electric-forecourt/london-gatwick-electric-forecourt/ |access-date=2023-05-10 |language=en-US}} Sites in Stevenage, Gateshead and Uckfield are due to be built, with planning permission also granted for forecourts in Bromborough, Plymouth and Markham Vale Business Park in Chesterfield.{{Cite web |title=Gridserve forecourt gets UK's fastest EV charger {{!}} Move Electric |url=https://www.moveelectric.com/e-cars/gridserve-forecourt-gets-uks-fastest-ev-charger |access-date=2023-05-10 |website=www.moveelectric.com}} Expansion into Scotland is planned with a proposal for a new forecourt in Rutherglen, a town in South Lanarkshire outside Glasgow City Centre.{{Cite web |last=GRIDSERVE |date=2023-05-05 |title=GRIDSERVE {{!}} Glasgow Rutherglen |url=https://www.gridserve.com/electric-vehicle-charging/electric-forecourt/glasgow-rutherglen/ |access-date=2023-05-10 |language=en-US}}

File:Reading Westbound Services High Power Gridserve EVSEs (Feb 2023).jpg

In July 2021, it was announced that Gridserve had purchased Ecotricity's charging network "the Electric Highway" which has chargers at almost all UK motorway services. In the first phase, all Electric Highway sites were replaced with more modern devices and contactless payment. This was targeted for September 2021.{{cite news |title=Gridserve acquires Ecotricity Electric Highway EV charging network |url=https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/electric-cars/gridserve-acquires-ecotricity-electric-highway-ev-charging-network |last=Warrick |first=Jack |website=Autocar |date=9 June 2021 |access-date=2 February 2025}} In fact, most sites except for Welcome Break were upgraded by late 2021; the Welcome Break sites were delayed but completed by April 2022.

In the next phase, Gridserve added "Electric Super Hubs" with 6 to 12 High Power chargers (up to 350 kW) at many service areas operated by Moto. The first hub (Rugby) was built in 2021, and by May 2022 hubs were operating in Swansea, Exeter, Burton-in-Kendal and Thurrock.

{{As of|May 2023}}, Gridserve operates Electric Super Hubs in 18 service area locations operated by Moto, including sites at Heston, Reading, Wetherby, Woolley Edge and Washington services. The total Electric Highway network comprises 160 locations, with chargers powered by 100% net zero carbon energy from Gridserve's hybrid solar and battery farms. All chargers accept contactless payment and feature CCS and CHAdeMO connectors.{{Cite web |last=Martin |first=Lauren |date=2023-04-06 |title=GRIDSERVE {{!}} GRIDSERVE opens two new Electric Super Hubs in the North East |url=https://www.gridserve.com/pressroom/gridserve-opens-two-new-electric-super-hubs-in-the-north-east/ |access-date=2023-05-10 |language=en-US}}

{{reflist}}

• {{official website|https://www.gridserve.com/}}
• {{LinkedIn page}}

Category:2017 establishments in England

Category:British companies established in 2017

Category:Companies based in Buckinghamshire

Category:Electric power companies of England

Category:Energy companies established in 2017

Category:Renewable energy companies of England

Category:Renewable resource companies established in 2017

Category:Solar energy companies of the United Kingdom

Category:Electric vehicle infrastructure developers

Category:Charging stations