- UK dealer group Arnold Clark has opened up its ultra-rapid charging network to the public, making over 50 new charging locations available to drivers right across the country.
- Located as far south as Southampton and as far north as Aberdeen, Arnold Clark Charge will become one of the most affordable ultra-rapid CPOs in the country, with a rate of 55p per kWh – compared to the industry average of 76p per kWh.
- The firm is looking to open further ultra-rapid public charging locations before the end of the year.
Arnold Clark Charge enters the market with 55p per kWh pricing
The locations include a mix of bays which need to be pre-booked through the Arnold Clark app, avoiding any potential queues, and ‘Pay & Go’ bays, which can be accessed without pre-booking and support contactless payments and roaming networks such as Octopus Electroverse, Zapmap, Plugsurfing, and Allstar. These locations are typically located on Arnold Clark retail sites, giving a wide range of areas where customers can charge – from urban sites, to out of town locations close to major A-roads and motorways. Charging speeds of up to 150kW will be on offer.
The 55p per kWh price will remain for those booking its chargers through the app, whilst the 55p per kWh charge for contactless Pay & Go users will just be an ‘introductory offer’ – with later pricing yet to be confirmed.
This pricing will help make Arnold Clark Charge one of the cheapest ultra-rapid CPOs on the UK market, nearly matching the 52p per kWh peak hours pricing offered to non-Tesla owners at some of its Supercharger locations. Despite Arnold Clark Charge’s cheaper offer, the average price for rapid and ultra-rapid charging in the UK currently stands at 76p per kWh, according to recent Zapmap statistics. Calls from many within the CPO industry to cut public charging VAT in line with domestic energy are continuing, to help make EV ownership more affordable for those without access to off-street parking and charging.
Russell Borrie, Chief Executive at Arnold Clark, commented:
“We’re committed to investing in the future of the automotive industry and making electric vehicle charging accessible to everyone. With EVs becoming increasingly popular, it’s essential that our charging infrastructure keeps pace with rising demand. These new charging hubs are designed to provide the public with convenient, reliable and cost-effective charging solutions while they’re on the move.”
