Dealer group Arnold Clark is to install more than 500 electric vehicle chargers across the UK in an investment worth £23m.

The ‘Arnold Clark Charge’ network is due to be fully installed by the end of 2023

Due to be fully installed by the end of 2023, the ‘Arnold Clark Charge’ network is expected to make the company one of the largest independent charging infrastructural suppliers in the UK once live.

It will stretch from Inverness to Southampton and Liverpool to Milton Keynes, and be available to book on a 24/7 basis.

Initially, the network will be exclusive to Arnold Clark customers via an app as well as staff and partners.

Larger Arnold Clark branches will have eight rapid chargers, with the ability to charge up to 150kW, with four to six rapid chargers installed at smaller branches.

Eddie Hawthorne, chief executive and group managing director of Arnold Clark, commented: “Our customers won’t have any range anxiety when dealing with Arnold Clark because we will have a charging solution for them at our branches.

“These chargers are for Arnold Clark customers and their unique selling point is that they’re bookable, available 24/7 and totally secure, while there will be preferential rates for our customers.”

The company has also announced the acquisition of Scottish-based electric vehicle charge point installer Bumblebee. Said to represent the UK’s largest network of electric car charge point specialists and installers, it’s able to install every OZEV-approved charge point on the UK market, from solar-powered to smart home wall chargers.

Hawthorne added: “We want to help our customers buy an electric vehicle, but we also want to help them to understand what owning, charging and driving an electric vehicle is all about. Bumblebee is part of that strategy and we’re going to be supplying customers with our own EV chargers.

“We have some great products coming from Bumblebee, including the world’s first modular EV charging point, so keep your eyes peeled for more announcements.”