Oxford City Council and Pivot Power, part of EDF Renewables, have joined up with Fastned, Tesla Superchargers and Wenea to deliver Europe’s most powerful EV charging hub in Oxford.
The Oxford Superhub, which will be located at Redbridge Park & Ride will see the installation of 38 fast and ultra-rapid chargers – making it the UK’s largest electric vehicle charging hub.
It is the first of up to 40 similar sites planned by Pivot Power across the UK to help deliver charging infrastructure for the estimated 36 million EVs by 2040.
The announcement is a key milestone in the completion of Energy Superhub Oxford (ESO) project, as Oxford is set to launch the UK’s first Zero Emission Zone this August.
Oxford Superhub
The Oxford Superhub at Redbridge Park & Ride, which is expected to open to the public later in 2021, will see up to 10MW of power on site – enough to meet the growing need for EV charging in the area for the next 30 years.
The Oxford Superhub will see the installation of:
- 10 Fastned chargers with up to 300kW of power, capable of adding 300 miles of range in just 20 minutes for up to hundreds of EVs per day
- 16 Gamma Energy chargers with between 7-22kW of power
- 12 250kW Tesla Superchargers will be available for Tesla owners
The station will be powered by 100% renewable energy, partly generated by Fastned’s trademark solar roof, and all makes and models of EVs will be able to charge at the highest rates possible simultaneously.
Chargers will be open 24/7, offering charging for a wide range of electric vehicle types. Payment can be via a simple contactless method, as well as app based payments.
An on-site café is planned, so that drivers can buy drinks and snacks, ensuring the charging process is as convenient as possible.
Unlike any other UK charging hub, the Oxford Superhub will be directly connected to National Grid’s high voltage transmission network, providing the power needed to charge large numbers of EVs quickly, without putting strain on the local electricity network.
It will share this connection with a 50MW hybrid battery – the largest ever deployed using lithium-ion and vanadium flow technology – enabling more renewable power onto the grid.
The network also has capacity to expand to key locations throughout Oxford to meet mass EV charging needs, from buses and taxis to commercial fleets.
Energy Superhub Oxford
The £41m world-first project, led by Pivot Power, integrates EV charging, battery storage, low carbon heating and smart energy management technologies to support Oxford to be zero carbon by 2040 or earlier.
The consortium of UK companies, led by Pivot Power with Oxford City Council, University of Oxford, Habitat Energy, Kensa Contracting, and Invinity Energy Systems, is delivering the EV Superhub, 100 ground source heat pumps and grid-scale battery storage.
ESO will save 10,000 tonnes of CO2 a year once opened later in 2021, equivalent to taking over 2,000 cars off the road, increasing to 25,000 tonnes by 2032.
The project provides a model for cities around the UK and world to cut carbon and improve air quality.
With Oxford set to introduce the UK’s first Zero Emission Zone in August 2021, ESO will support the city’s aims to reduce toxic air pollution levels, tackle the climate emergency, and improve the health of residents, workers and visitors in Oxford and beyond.
The Zero Emission Zone, which is being introduced in partnership with Oxfordshire County Council, is a road user charging scheme where vehicles used in the zone would be subject to charges depending on their emissions, with electric vehicles able to use the zone free of charge.
The project will also support Oxford City Council’s ambition to achieve zero carbon emissions across its estate and operations by 2030 or earlier, and become a zero-carbon city by 2040 or earlier, ten years ahead of the Government’s 2050 deadline.
Government plans to cut carbon emissions and improve air quality will see millions of EVs in use by 2035, and the project will show how this can be achieved while maintaining a stable and cost-effective electricity network. To accelerate the delivery of ESO, the Government has contributed £10 million to the project via UKRI’s Prospering from the Energy Revolution programme.
"For Oxford to go zero carbon by 2040, we need to electrify a lot more of our transportation. As an innovative city embracing technologies and change, Oxford is the natural home for the UK's largest public EV charging hub. We are excited to be taking a major step forward in the completion of Energy Superhub Oxford, working closely and superbly with our private sector partners. As an ambitious city, we are excited about the prospect of further innovation and investments, building upon our record of transformational public and private sector delivery."
Councillor Tom Hayes, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Green Transport and Zero Carbon Oxford at Oxford City Council
“Our goal is to help the UK accelerate net zero by delivering power where it is needed to support the EV and renewable energy revolution. Oxford is one of 40 sites we are developing across the UK, combining up to 2GW of battery storage with high volume power connections for mass EV charging. Energy Superhub Oxford supports EDF’s plan to become Europe’s leading e-mobility energy company by 2023, and is a blueprint we want to replicate right across the country, working hand in hand with local communities to create cleaner, more sustainable cities where people want to live and work.”
Matt Allen, CEO at Pivot Power
“Forward-thinking innovation in the energy space is key not only to change current energy use, but to plan for societies and industries that prosper in the future. The combination of benefits this project delivers – from storage and AI-powered flexibility services, to greener heating and vehicle charging – are exactly the kind of multipurpose solution that will help drive the UK forward as a leading net zero innovator. The Energy Superhub is also a great demonstration of what can be achieved with a commitment to collaboration, and bringing together different areas of expertise to tackle key issues for our energy future.”
Rob Saunders, Challenge Director, Prospering from the Energy Revolution, UKRI
“Our mission is to accelerate the transition towards electric mobility by giving freedom to electric drivers. EV drivers experience this freedom when they know that fast and convenient charging is omnipresent. Energy Superhub Oxford is a great initiative by the City Council to support us in working towards that goal. We need hundreds more and will therefore continue to engage with landowners and partners such as Pivot Power across the UK. Big stations are the only way to provide charging capacity to the exponentially growing number of EVs coming to our roads.”
Michiel Langezaal, CEO of Fastned
“At Wenea, sustainability is central to our vision. We fulfil our Environmental and Social Governance responsibilities through continuous innovation and investment. The UK has set itself the most ambitious target in Europe for eliminating petrol and diesel vehicles and Wenea, with its wide expertise across development, installation and operations, is one of the few suppliers that can help public authorities, private landlords and other key stakeholders deliver that vision.”
José Manuel Zorrilla, CEO of Wenea
Rate this page
