All 870 PiM charging points will now be added to the POLAR charging network, accessible via a smartphone app, and Chargemaster is planning another 100 units in the next few months.

It’s the latest in a number of recent growth announcements made by the company. In 2013, the company won a tender to take over the management of the Milton Keynes Plugged-in Places network, and it recently began taking control of 300 units on the Source London scheme from current operator Bolloré.

Robert Evans, CEO of Cenex, said: “Cenex has successfully grown the PiM network over the past five years to serve electric vehicle owners in the Midlands, and we are very proud of what has been achieved.

“Now is the time for the PiM network to transition to a specialist network operator that can expand the scope of the network, unify networks for national coverage, and invest in new services and an improved customer experience.”

David Martell, Chargemaster CEO, said: “We will be investing in many new chargepoints and back-end server technologies. We will also be working closely with existing stakeholders to make the Midlands a showcase that facilitates and promotes the ownership and operation of electric vehicles.”