Railpen, one of the largest pension managers in the UK, has announced the launch of three new electric vehicle (EV) charging locations in partnership with Osprey Charging. The first location is now installed at St Ann’s Shopping Centre in Harrow, London, with more charging points to be launched at two other Railpen assets very shortly.
The rapid charging site at St Ann’s Shopping Centre comprises three 60kW chargers. Each has the ability to add 100 miles of range in around 35 minutes, with the potential to save around 7,400 tonnes of CO2, contributing significantly to local decarbonisation efforts. The location was selected to cater to the growing demand for high-powered EV charging in the area and the chargers are compatible with every EV on the market today. The other two sites are a 16-bay hub at Glamorgan Vale Retail Park in Wales and two 150kW chargers across four bays at Old George Mall in Salisbury.
Railpen says the partnership with Osprey demonstrates its commitment to providing long-term stable returns for members, while having a positive impact on the environment. It also reflects Railpen’s commitment to enhancing its retail assets to provide customers with more choice, aligning the destinations to their lifestyles as more and more consumers switch to full EVs or hybrids. According to industry body, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), almost 1.2 million full EVs have been registered so far this year in the UK, along with over 685,000 hybrids, representing growth of 22% and 16% respectively on the whole of 2023.
Maria Averkina, asset and development manager at Railpen commented: “This latest announcement is a testament to Railpen’s ongoing commitment to use our influence and scale to effect positive change in the world, while also evolving our retail assets to reflect consumers’ changing lifestyles.”
Osprey’s extensive network coverage boasts over 1,100 live chargers across the UK. Andrew Nosworthy, commercial director at Osprey Charging, said: “We’re excited to partner with Railpen to bring reliable, rapid charging to St Anns Shopping Centre in Harrow. Our collaboration with Railpen underscores our commitment to providing accessible charging to all EV drivers across the UK. The launch of our first Railpen site, as well as the two further locations that will open later in the year, mark another significant step in this direction.”
