As the UK government plans a tenfold expansion in electric vehicle (EV) charge points by 2030, one ambitious BMW dealership is aiming to put itself at the forefront of the EV revolution.
Soper of Lincoln has installed ABB’s new Terra 360, which is capable of fully charging an EV in less than 15 minutes. The new units will enable Soper’s team to add 62 miles of range in less than three minutes.
One of the Terra 360 units at Soper of Lincoln is on the dealership forecourt, while the other is dedicated to the 15-bay service workshop. The facility is equipped with the most up-to-date technology, including the only fully automated MOT test in Lincoln.
In order to accommodate the new chargers, the dealership also upgraded its grid connection to support the 560 amps needed for each charger to operate at full power.
“We’re excited that BMW drivers in Lincoln are the first in the UK to benefit from this latest charging technology,” said Andrew Tullie, Dealer Principal at Soper Lincoln BMW.
“Each of our two Terra 360s can fully charge four high-performance BMW i7 EVs an hour. The new chargers are helping us maintain our position as a dealership that has always invested in the latest innovative technology.”
Now they are live, the new ultra-rapid EV charging points will enable the dealership to support today’s electric BMWs, as well as those still in development.
“It’s important to think ahead and ensure the right infrastructure is installed at car dealerships and other forecourts. Soper of Lincoln BMW is taking action in the wake of World EV Day 2022,” said Joe Ellwood, EV Charging Product Specialist at ABB.
“Importantly, this project is also acting as a pilot for other installations of the Terra 360 ultra-rapid charger. We’re already working on projects to install Terra 360 units elsewhere in the UK, so it’s exciting to see customers using this pioneering installation at the heart of the country.”
The Terra 360 units are dual-outlet units, meaning that two vehicles can charge simultaneously using the combined charging system (CCS) connection. CCS is the standard charging solution for BMW’s range of electric vehicles.
Looking ahead, by mid-2023 ABB will be releasing a four-outlet version of the Terra 360 to the UK to share power between up to four vehicles at once. This will maximise return of investment for forecourts, since one unit will be able serve 90kW of power to four drivers simultaneously.
