SSE Energy Solutions has kicked off plans for a major electric vehicle charging network across the UK by announcing a significant new partnership with Oxford Properties and its pan-European portfolio company M7 Real Estate.

SSE plans to build 300 EV charging bays powered by traceable, renewable energy by 2027

SSE plans to build 300 EV charging bays powered by traceable, renewable energy by 2027. Its first hub on Castlebank Street in Glasgow went live at the end of September, helping to meet increasing demands for EV infrastructure in the run-up to the 2030 ICE ban.

The new deal with Oxford forms part of SSE’s overall EV network strategy and aims to deliver new EV sites with up to 12 bays each at 20 of Oxford’s retail warehousing parks across the UK within 24 months. These will have the ability to recharge an estimated two million vehicles annually. The parks are asset-managed and operated by M7 on behalf of Oxford.

Most bays will have ultra-rapid charging capabilities of up to 150kW and will allow drivers to resume their journey within 20 to 40 minutes of plugging in – significantly faster than the widely used 50kW charger, which takes around two hours to charge a 90kWh car battery.

SSE is also in talks with M7 to further expand the project, with the ambition to open a potential 70 sites around the country in total by 2025.

A recent report from the Climate Change Committee shows that charging infrastructure deployment is not keeping pace with EV take-up and needs to accelerate to meet the government target of 300,000 public charge points by 2030.

Kevin Welstead, EV sector director at SSE Energy Solutions, said: “It is vital that we face the EV infrastructure challenge head on if we are to meet our ambitious decarbonisation targets.

“We must ensure that drivers are able to access EV charging points easily and conveniently. Retail locations provide a perfect solution; people can simply plug in their vehicle while they shop and return to a fully charged car thanks to our ultra-rapid facilities.

“M7 and Oxford share our social values and determination to beat climate change. Their forward-thinking partnership with us is exactly the kind of collaborative approach we need landowners across the UK to consider. M7 understands that the time to act is now, and we look forward to continuing our work with them.”

Oxford and M7 said the tie-up would support work to ensure their retail parks are as green as possible.

James Boadle, senior vice president, at Oxford, said: “We believe our assets have an important role to play in supporting the green infrastructure required to help our customers and communities make more sustainable choices. This new initiative between Oxford, M7 and SSE benefits our retailers and shoppers alike with a fast, convenient way to recharge their EVs while shopping. We are firmly committed to playing our part to address climate change and meeting our Net Zero goals as we continue to decarbonise our global portfolio.”