A new public rapid charging hub said to the largest in the UK has been officially opened in Milton Keynes.

The hub incorporates three extensive canopies to help drivers locate the rapid chargers and to provide shelter

The hub, which comprises eight 50kW rapid chargers, is operated by BP Chargemaster as part of its Polar network and has already been used to charge more than 500 electric vehicles since it went live.

It’s located within a minute’s drive of the M1, just off junction 14 at Milton Keynes Coachway, and was designed and constructed by Milton Keynes Council as part of its Go Ultra Low City programme. Funding came from the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV), as part of a £9m investment package to support the growth of electric vehicles in Milton Keynes.

The official opening ceremony was presided over by Councillor Martin Petchey, Mayor of Milton Keynes, along with Brian Matthews, head of transport innovation at Milton Keynes Council, and David Martell, chief executive of BP Chargemaster.

Brian Matthews commented: “We are very proud of this important new facility for electric vehicle drivers, both in Milton Keynes and those passing on a longer journey. The rapid charging hub is just one of the ways in which we are supporting electric vehicle drivers in Milton Keynes, with other initiatives including free parking with a Green Permit in most car parks, and our pledge to provide local charging points for residents who do not have off-street parking.”

David Martell of BP Chargemaster added: “We are delighted to be operating what is now the UK’s largest universal rapid charging hub, providing a fantastic, convenient place to charge for drivers travelling within and around Milton Keynes. The eight UK-made Ultracharge rapid chargers join the 300 Fastcharge and 65 rapid chargers that we already operate in the area, which has established itself as a centre of excellence for electric vehicle charging infrastructure.”