Transport for London opens rapid charging hub in Woolwich

Transport for London has opened a new rapid charging hub in Woolwich which will allow eight electric vehicles to fully charge in 20-30 minutes.

The facility, in Glass Yard, is part of TfL’s strategy to have a rapid charging hub in every one of the capital’s five sub-regions.

It has already opened a hub in east London at Stratford International and a site at Baynard House in the City of London is currently being constructed.

More will follow in the north and west of the city.

Alex Williams, director of city planning at TfL, said: “It’s essential that we increase the supply of charging infrastructure for EVs as we support the shift to tese vehicles to clean up London’s air and decarbonise transport in the city.

“We have seen an increase of more than 2,000 charging points in the capital over the past year and these new hubs are a key part of that expansion.

“EV charging hubs that can be used in the same way as a traditional petrol station by without pumping toxic fumes are important in helping people to feel comfortable taking the plunge with an EV.

“These hubs will be spread across the capital and complement the dense charging network we already have, meaning range anxiety is not something drivers have to worry about in London.”

London currently has around one-third of the country’s charging points and TfL last year hit its target of delivering 300 rapid charging points across the capital.

In partnership with the city’s 33 boroughs through the Go Ultra Low Cities scheme, more than 3,000 residential charging points have already been delivered.

There are now more than 7,000 charging points within the M25, an increase of more than 2,000 over one year ago.

The Mayor’s Electric Vehicle Insfrastructure Delivery Plan estimates that by 2025 London may need up to 4,000 rapid charging points and up to 48,000 residential chargers as more people and businesses move to EVs

A new strategy addressing future forecasts will be published later this year, including analysis of long-term demand, further information on how Greater London Authority land can be used to increase the density of charging points and how the public and private sector can remove barriers to their construction.

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