InstaVolt Invests £2.5 Million in Battery Storage at Five UK EV Charging Sites

InstaVolt has invested £2.5 million in five battery energy storage system sites that have gone live at locations including Bwch Moch Cafe, 311 Lower Addiscombe Road, Harwich 2, Northampton Williams Way and Three Trees Farm Shop and Cafe. Each site represents an investment of around £500,000 and opened in March and April this year.

The systems are designed to protect against rising grid prices and connection delays. The battery energy storage systems charge overnight using cheaper energy and discharge during daytime peaks. This approach allows drivers to pay less for charging.

The company said the developments address escalating network demand and grid connection delays that have slowed deployment of rapid charging infrastructure across the UK. Data from those locations informed the design of the new sites. In March the Winchester Superhub generated 42,000 kWh of solar power, with around nine-tenths of energy sold between 7am and 8pm while 89 percent of grid energy was purchased during off-peak hours.

The company has confirmed a further 20 battery storage sites before the end of the year. Eight additional locations in Wisbech, Knutsford, Cheltenham, Blyth, Stockton-on-Tees, Penrith, York and Thirsk are already scheduled for the following financial year.

The technology is expected to be particularly useful at sites with limited grid connections such as motorways and rural areas. InstaVolt plans to introduce a reduced charging rate of 70p per kWh from the summer, supported by a larger share of solar generation.

The company stated that battery storage enables faster and more cost-effective charger deployment. Delvin Lane, CEO of InstaVolt, said battery storage was "one of the most powerful tools we have". He added: "That saving goes to the consumer. When you factor in standing charges, VAT, and the full weight of infrastructure costs, passing savings on to drivers is not the easy option.

" The announcement follows the government's confirmation that it would reduce regulatory barriers for businesses installing EV chargers. The UK has now installed more than 120,000 public electric vehicle chargers along with more than one million home and workplace chargers.

Dr Andy Palmer, founder and CEO of Palmer Energy Technologies, said: "The grid connection problem is real and it isn't going away quickly.