Arnold Clark Charge opens to the public
Dozens of Arnold Clark dealerships now feature charging hubs with up to eight rapid chargers and dedicated parking bays. Each charger reportedly has the ability to charge up to 150kW, with prices starting at a relatively low 55p/kWh. Notably, the chargers are open to both Arnold Clark app users and Pay & Go customers using contactless payments; as well as customers with charging cards from Allstar, Octopus Electroverse, Plugsurfing and Zap-Pay. Chargers can also be booked via the Arnold Clark app, with many of the sites being accessible 24/7. Customers can reportedly claim a free coffee while they charge, depending on location.
When the charging network was first announced, Arnold Clark said it plans to install 500 EV chargers at more than 100 locations in the UK – meaning that the company is approximately halfway towards its goal at this stage. With 200 dealerships across the UK, it has scope to expand this much further, although there are not yet any confirmed plans to do so. At the moment, the largest concentrations of charging hubs are around Glasgow and Manchester, with non currently live in Wales, London, or the north of Ireland.
Russell Borrie, CEO of Arnold Clark, said: “With electric vehicles becoming increasingly popular, it’s essential that our charging infrastructure keeps pace with rising demand. That’s why we’ve made significant investments in our own UK-wide, bookable ultra-rapid charging network, Arnold Clark Charge. These new charging hubs are designed to provide the public with convenient, reliable and cost-effective charging solution while they’re on the move.”
The project follows a previous collaboration between Arnold Clark and Kempower to install 150kW ‘Satellite’ charge points across the UK. This saw eight chargers being installed at larger dealerships, while smaller locations featured between two and six charging points – which could give some indication on how the company plans to distribute its next round of chargers.
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