Last year the Government said it wanted there to be at least six ultra-rapid charging points at every motorway service area in the UK by 2023 (with some sites having 10 or 12). Under the Government’s own definition, ultra-rapid charging points deliver between 150 and 350 kilowatts and are (again depending on your car) capable of adding about 100 miles of range in less than 10 minutes. Now that sounds more like it.

There are 158 service stations in the country if you count both those on north and southbound routes at some locations. So, even at the lower end of the Government’s ambition, this would equate to there being nearly 1,000 ultrarapid charging points on the UK’s motorway network in just over 12 months time. 

Unfortunately, it seems pretty clear that’s not going to happen. As of this month there are fewer than 100. 

Part of the problem is that Electric Highway (which was owned by Ecotricity but is now owned by Gridserve) has exclusive rights to operate rapid charging points at nearly two-thirds of the UK’s service stations. Some of these agreements run until 2031. 

They only extend to the main parking area at service stations rather than petrol forecourts. However, installing chargers on forecourts is tricky because of space constraints and safety concerns (plus, most drivers would probably quite like to get a burger or Cornish pasty while their car is charging). 

Last month the Competition and Markets Authority looked into these arrangements. It concluded: “Long-term exclusive arrangements can be justified in certain circumstances, including to support investments in nascent sectors.” That sounds fair enough. 

But in a market study report published in July, the CMA also said: “Several competitors told us they would look to enter and compete at motorway services but are prevented by these [long-term exclusivity] agreements.”