Gridserve Installs New “Microgrid” High Power Chargers at Ferrybridge Services

Options for electric car charging in our region have expanded yet again with a new six-charger hub at Moto Ferrybridge Services from provider Gridserve — with a difference.

The new installation features what Gridserve calls a “microgrid”, which is actually a temporary solution to get the chargers up and running for public use before they’ve been connected up to the power grid.

As explained by Gridserve, getting its Electric Super Hub installations wired up is a rat’s nest of red tape, dealing with multiple public and private entities to get power to the charging units. In order to circumvent any delays, Gridserve has come up with the microgrid solution, which is being trialled at Ferrybridge.

Essentially it uses alternative means of power generation, using vegetable oil generators and a battery pack derived from re-used car batteries. Although that results in some carbon emissions, Gridserve is offsetting that with a tree-planting program.

This allows for six high-power chargers, capable of delivering up to 350kW via CCS connectors (100kW via Chademo), to be installed at the site — with Gridserve planning to deliver 12 in total when the permanent grid connection is in place.

Ferrybridge Services is at a vital location on the motorway network, just off the M62/A1(M) interchange and accessible from both motorways. It’s the fourth Electric Super Hub location on the A1 in the north, joining Washington, Wetherby, and Blyth (Nottinghamshire), as well as the first on the M62 itself.

As a testbed for the microgrid solution, Gridserve is inviting customers to deliver feedback on the site — including customer experience and charging speeds — with a view to implementing microgrid technology at other sites as a way to hit the targetted numbers of chargers by the end of 2023.