The EV Network (EVN), bp pulse and NEC Group, are proud to launch of one of Europe’s largest electric vehicle (EV) charging hubs on the NEC Campus in the West Midlands. This Gigahub™ was officially opened by The Chancellor of the Exchequer, The Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP.
The Gigahub will help serve the seven million visitors attracted to the NEC Campus annually, along with a wide range of other road users that make up the area’s average yearly traffic count of 60 million. It can be accessed via the main NEC Campus through-road.
Capable of charging 180 EV’s simultaneously, the Gigahub boasts cutting-edge ultra-fast 16x 300KW DC chargers, of which two are designated accessible bays. These ultra-fast chargers are capable of charging 30 EVs simultaneously. The site also has a further 150 points for 7KW charging including additional designated accessible bays.
The range of charging speeds offered by the Gigahub, from 300kW for ultra-fast DC charging to 7kW AC charging for longer stays, addresses the diverse needs of different types of EV drivers.
All visitors to the Gigahub will have access to a new Starbucks Coffee drive-thru, combining fast charging with convenience to deliver the services EV drivers want while they wait.
This site is a testament to the power of collaboration in advancing the UK’s EV charging infrastructure and overcoming barriers to infrastructure development.
The EV Network (EVN) as investor for this multimillion-pound project, designed, developed, and constructed the EV charging Gigahub after signing a long-term contract with the NEC Group to bring EV charging infrastructure to the entire campus and working with bp pulse on several projects launched throughout 2023.
Reza Shaybani, CEO, and co-founder of the EV Network, said: “The launch of the UK’s largest Gigahub is a massive game changer for EVN and a huge step forward for UK electric vehicle fast charging. The EVN team responding to the public demand for more – charging and we are responding with hundreds of millions of pounds of new investment and the very latest technology.
“EVN has already built dozens of sites across the UK, but the successful completion of this new project launches us onto a much more ambitious growth path, as the leading business in our sector with a range of exciting new partners.”
Akira Kirton, vice president of bp pulse UK, said: “The transition to electric vehicles is evolving at pace which is why bp pulse is focussed on accelerating the development of the UK’s EV infrastructure, delivering the right charging speeds, in the right locations and investing up to £1 billion to do so. This new, nationally significant bp pulse Gigahub at the heart of the UK’s road network, is another great example of our strategy in action.”
Paul Thandi CBE, DL Chairman of NEC Group, said: “We are proud to contribute to the UK Government’s Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy. Working in collaboration with EVN and bp pulse, the opening of our EV charging hub provides NEC Campus customers, commuters, and those working for local regional or national businesses, a reliable and convenient way to recharge and support a lower carbon travel future.”
