UK Motorway Service Areas Lack Grid Capacity for EV Growth

The National Audit Office has found that only 10% of UK motorway service areas currently have the grid capacity needed to meet forecast EV charging demand by 2035. Roadchef, which operates sites serving millions of motorists annually, has secured 75-year lease extensions across five sites and plans to deploy 1,000 EV charging bays by 2030.

Gittins argues that unlocking grid capacity at strategic points on the road network is the critical policy action needed to prevent the EV transition from stalling outside urban centres. Motorway services will be central to the EV transition, but urgent action is needed to unlock grid capacity, writes Tim Gittins.

The UK has now passed a significant milestone with more than 2m electric vehicles on the road.

Since the opening of Watford

Gap in 1959, the UK's first motorway service area, motorway services have continually adapted to meet the needs of changing vehicle fleets.