Zap-Map, the UK’s leading electric vehicle (EV) mapping service, and GRIDSERVE, a pioneer in sustainable energy solutions, are delighted to announce that the GRIDSERVE Electric Highway is now part of Zap-Map’s live data network.
The recently completed integration between the two companies means that the live availability status of GRIDSERVE Electric Highway charging locations are now visible on Zap-Map. This will make planning charge stops easier, and deliver a network that people can rely on, without range or charging anxiety, wherever they live in the UK, and whatever type of electric vehicle they drive.
GRIDSERVE, a leading sustainable energy company that develops, builds, owns and operates clean energy solutions for critical power infrastructure – completed the purchase of the Electric Highway, the world’s first national EV charging network, from Ecotricity in June this year. GRIDSERVE had previously taken a 25% stake in the Electric Highway in March.
The company’s significant investment in the GRIDSERVE Electric Highway has seen legacy chargers already replaced with the latest technology at over 85 locations across the UK. This progress has been achieved in just four short months, with the company operating at an extraordinary speed to upgrade the aging network. The new chargers feature the latest advances, such as contactless payment, and certain chargers are capable of the fastest possible charging speeds of up to 350kW.
The completion of this phase sees all locations on the network upgraded and offers a combination of both CCS and CHAdeMO connectors. In addition to this, over a hundred AC 22kW devices will be provided to ensure that nobody is left out and that every EV driver can take full advantage of the upgraded network.
GRIDSERVE are also now hard at work installing the latest high-power charging technology and will see the installation of more than 50 high power Electric Hubs with between six and twelve 350kW chargers in each location to be delivered across the UK motorway network. The company is also in the process of constructing multiple Electric Forecourts® and destination charging Electric Hubs at many other locations nationwide. As GRIDSERVE Electric Highway chargers are upgraded and as new sites are installed, all will be displayed on Zap-Map under the new ‘GRIDSERVE Electric Highway’ network brand.
A snapshot of GRIDSERVE Electric Highway locations on Zap-Map.
Today’s announcement formalises the relationship between Zap-Map and GRIDSERVE to ensure all UK drivers are provided with the best and most up-to-date charging information, with all upgraded devices visible on Zap-Map. As with chargers from other live partners, GRIDSERVE Electric Highway EV drivers will be able to see the latest live status on the Zap-Map app and desktop, updated every five minutes.
Melanie Shufflebotham, Co-founder and COO at Zap-Map, said:
“It is so important for EV drivers to be able to see live status data when planning their journeys. The GRIDSERVE Electric Highway chargers are situated at critical locations across the UK, and we are delighted to be working closely with GRIDSERVE to display live status on Zap-Map. This will be welcome news to EV drivers, as we know they love the existing live data on Zap-Map, giving them more confidence as they get out and about in their EVs.”
Toddington Harper, CEO at GRIDSERVE, said:
“We are delighted to be partnering with Zap-Map, to help showcase our upgraded, rapidly expanding electric vehicle charging network that is simple-to-use, reliable, and relieves charge anxiety. Driving electric vehicles should be an enjoyable, ultra-convenient and stress-free experience for everyone, and Zap Map helps make it easy for customers to find electric vehicle chargers wherever they are in the UK. Furthermore, enabling people to view the live status of chargers is really useful, and helps to improve customer experience.”
Zap-Map recently released a new version of the app that provides key updates to the existing free features, especially enhancements to route planning and filtering. As part of this, Zap-Map also introduced Zap-Map Plus and Zap-Map Premium, which provide additional new features for drivers to help them plan quicker and drive smarter.
Among other new features, users upgrading to Zap-Map Plus and Premium are able to distinguish which charge points are new (added in the last 30 days) on the map and as a list – for example, newly upgraded GRIDSERVE Electric Highway locations.
