The charger is installed at the new Cornwall Services site in Victoria, on the A30 near Bodmin, connecting the Electric Highway units at Lands End with the chargers at Exeter Services, previously a 124-mile stretch with no rapid chargers en route.

Two connectors will be offered; the AC Type 2 used by most European manufacturers and the Tesla Model S, but which can only rapid charge the Renault ZOE, and the CHAdeMo DC connection used by Nissan, Mitsubishi, PSA and Kia. This will restore 80% of a rapid charge-enabled vehicles’ range in 30 minutes using renewably-sourced electricity from Ecotricity.

To mark the event, ecodrive will host an exhibition of key plug-in models on the Friday and Saturday, enabling owners to sign up for membership to the Electric Highway.

Matthew Trevaskis, director at ecodrive, said: ‘This new Quick Charger at Cornwall Services, at Victoria on the A30, is a fantastic addition to the charging infrastructure in Cornwall and will be very useful for existing EV drivers to get more out of their electric cars and vans.  

‘It also connects Cornwall to the rest of the Electric Highway network on the M5 allowing drivers to use their cars for longer trips and for visitors to drive to Cornwall in their EVs.’

Gregor Stevenson, manager of Cornwall Services added: ‘We look forward to welcoming EV drivers from near and far, seven days a week from 6am until 11pm, whilst they charge their cars for free!’