Ionity has opened a rapid-charging station at the new Leeds Skelton Lake Services; part of its expanding pan-European charging network.

Leeds is the fourth Ionity station to open to the public in the UK and the first to be fitted with six of its new 350kW chargers

Opened to enable essential travel during the lockdown, the station marks Ionity’s fourth in the UK. A further seven Ionity facilities will open at motorway service stations this year in partnership with Extra MSA Group.

In the longer term, Ionity – a joint venture between Mercedes-Benz, Ford, BMW Group and the Volkswagen group – is planning to establish 40 rapid charging stations in the UK and 400 across Europe.

Marcus Groll, COO, Ionity, said: “The reality is that 50 kW chargers no longer offer customers fast enough charging on motorways and key travel routes and will therefore not facilitate the transition to e-Mobility. IONITY’s chargers are prepared for the advancement of battery technology and EVs of the future. Our network makes long-distance e-Mobility a seamless experience.”

The chargers at the new Leeds site make use of new technology previewed at last year’s Frankfurt Motor Show; developments include halo lighting to provide customers with information about the charging status of the battery and make them easy to recognise for drivers. The position and design of the charging cable has also been revised to enable easier use.

The new station has been opened amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic as part of Ionity’s work to provide full support to customers and essential service providers. Customers are being advised to follow government regulations on social distancing and hygiene measures while they charge, to minimise the risk of infection and ensure safety for all users.