Largest electric-car charging hub in the UK to be built at Brent Cross

A total of 236 electric-car charging points will be installed in London's Brent Cross shopping centre’s car parks over the next five years, making it the largest charging hub in the UK.

The chargers will be operated by Franklin Energy as part of its LiFe Network. According to Franklin, 50 22kW DC fast chargers and two 350kW DC rapid chargers will be installed in the centre’s car parks by the end of this year, making up the initial phase.

The charging hub will not only serve the shopping centre’s customers, but also aims to provide those travelling on the M1, A41 and A406 via the North Circular Road with easy access to charging points.

Louise Ellison, group head of sustainability at Hammerson, one of main investors in the project, said: “The installation of the UK’s largest EV charging facility will not only attract more visitors to our centres at a time when we're expecting to see a significant increase in electric vehicles on the roads, but also shows our continued commitment to tackling climate change, as we continue our journey towards becoming net positive by 2030.

“Combined with our renewable electricity contracts, this service has the potential to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of visitors to Brent Cross by supporting the transition to electric vehicles.”

The 350kW DC rapid chargers will be important in future-proofing the Brent Cross hub, as more cars capable of charging at those speeds, like the Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5, are starting to appear, so it's no longer the exclusive preserve of high-end models like the Porsche Taycan or Audi e-tron GT.