Novuna Vehicle Solutions opens groundbreaking EV charging forecourt to support fleets transition to electric vehicles

• Flagship installation in Trowbridge, incorporating leading edge technology making it the UK’s first permanent cableless, fully wireless EV forecourt charging facility showcases Novuna Vehicle Solutions’ market leading integrated energy management and end-to-end EV charging infrastructure capabilities
• State-of-the art EV charging forecourt equipped to charge 16 vehicles simultaneously; 12 AC bays with electricity generated from a solar canopy combined with a grid connection and four DC rapid charging bays, opens to showcase fleet decarbonisation offering
• Launch of pioneering EV charging facility attended by key industry figures including, BVRLA Head of Policy and Public Affairs Thomas McLennan, co-founder of Zapmap, Melanie Shufflebotham and Commercial Director of Autotrader Ian Plummer

27 September 2023: Novuna Vehicle Solutions, one of the UK's largest fleet leasing providers with a fleet of over 100,000 vehicles, 30% of which are now pure electric, today announces that its state-of-the art Electric Vehicle (EV) charging forecourt is open for business incorporating the UK’s first permanent cableless, fully wireless EV charging facility.

The charging infrastructure at Novuna Vehicle Solutions’ premises in Trowbridge features 12 AC charging bays that can deliver up to 22 kW of power to fully charge an average EV with a 50 kWh battery equipped with a 11 kW onboard charger in under five hours. A separate car park on site with four DC rapid charging bays delivers up to 100kW of power to fully charge a vehicle in under one hour.

Electricity at the forecourt, which enables 16 electric vehicles to be charged simultaneously, is generated from a solar canopy over the 12 AC bays combined with a grid connection, enabling an estimated 70% of the energy consumed for employee charging to be sourced from Novuna’s own renewable generation. A 180 kWh battery storage facility onsite equipped with an energy management system enables storage of unused solar generated energy, allowing the use of peak-saving trickle charging, delivering lower Co2 emissions.

The forecourt, constructed using lower Co2 concrete and equipment, features the UK’s first permanent cableless, fully wireless EV charging facility with charging pads across each of the parking bays, designed to accommodate cars and vans as well as accessibility bays.

The landmark installation, which marries innovation in leasing with intuitive EV charging, showcases the full suite of end-to-end EV charging infrastructure capabilities provided by Novuna Vehicle Solutions and will provide fleets with the opportunity to experience first-hand the variety of charging hardware technology available for fleets at their own depot and workplace sites.

A key element of the installation includes the introduction of a charge point management system and associated driver app, My Novuna Charging, enabling Novuna Vehicle Solutions to manage both its own charging network and its customer’s charge points effectively. The system, which will also give fleet drivers access to other corporate, private and public networks in the near future, provides a real time view of charging events and energy consumption alongside remote hardware maintenance for fleets.

The flagship installation demonstrates Novuna Vehicle Solutions’ ambition to comprehensively support fleets transition to battery electric vehicles through its unique decarbonisation propositions, whilst also serving as a charging facility for over 300 Novuna employees based at the premises in Trowbridge.

Jon Lawes, Managing Director of Novuna Vehicle Solutions, said: “The opening of our groundbreaking EV charging forecourt represents a major milestone not only for Novuna vehicle Solutions but for the entire contract hire and leasing industry.

“Our flagship charging facility in Trowbridge truly showcases, for the first time, the breadth of our unique end-to-end charging capability and the energy management solutions we can offer to fleet customers right across the EV charging ecosystem helping them to future proof their business operations.

“As a leading advocate for zero-emission vehicles, the launch of our sustainable state of the art EV forecourt also underlines our commitment as a company to carbon neutrality as one of the largest and greenest charging facilities in Wiltshire.”

Ian Plummer, Commercial Director of Autotrader, added: “As fleets accelerate their transition to electric vehicles, installing workplace charging is a fundamental component of their decarbonisation strategy in order to achieve their net zero ambitions.

“I’m delighted to see the future of EV charging for the UK’s contract hire and leasing industry brought to life for the first time by Novuna Vehicle Solutions. Addressing commercial EV fleet charging requirements must go hand to hand with realising complete electrification for businesses as they continue to lead the charge towards zero-emission road transport.”

The launch of the pioneering EV charging facility was attended by leading industry professionals including BVRLA Head of Policy and Public Affairs Thomas McLennan, co-founder of Zapmap, Melanie Shufflebotham and Commercial Director of Autotrader Ian Plummer. Market leaders in EVs including BMW, Volvo, Cupra, VW, Genesis and Hyundai, plus visionary partners including Michelin, RAC and Gridserve also in attendance were joined by over 600 Novuna employees who work across Novuna Vehicle Solutions’ premises based in Trowbridge and Newbury.