Arnold Clark has launched its ultra-rapid charging network across the UK, making 50 hubs at its dealerships available to the public following a £30 million (€35 million) investment last year. The rollout marks the halfway point of the company’s plan to install 500 chargers at more than 100 locations nationwide.
The new hubs, spread across dozens of dealerships, feature up to eight chargers each, offering power levels of up to 150 kW. Charging is priced from 55p per kWh, with payments accepted via the Arnold Clark app, contactless Pay & Go, or charging cards from providers such as Allstar, Octopus Electroverse, Plugsurfing and Zap-Pay. The company also allows users to pre-book chargers through its app, with many sites open around the clock. In some locations, customers are offered complimentary coffee while charging.
At present, the largest clusters of charging hubs are around Glasgow and Manchester, though there are no live sites yet in Wales, London or Northern Ireland. With more than 200 dealerships across the UK, the company has capacity to expand beyond its initial goal, although no additional build-out has been confirmed.
The initiative follows Arnold Clark’s collaboration with Finnish supplier Kempower, which provided 150 kW “Satellite” charge points for the rollout. Larger dealerships have been fitted with up to eight chargers, while smaller sites typically include between two and six. The company has said the charging network is intended to provide drivers with convenient, reliable and cost-effective access as demand for electric vehicles rises.
