Gridserve has commenced the deployment of ABB E-Mobility’s new 400kW-capable A400 chargers on its Electric Highway EV charging network. The initial installation at Centaurus Park in Bristol, located approximately one mile from Junction 17 of the M5, marks the start of a new generation of ultra-rapid chargers planned for expansion across the network.
Over the past five years, Gridserve has established more than 200 charging locations, covering 85% of the UK’s motorway network. The introduction of this new hardware aims to address major challenges in public EV charging, including reliability, simplicity, and operational efficiency.
Gridserve has emphasised reliability as a key component of its strategy. This focus is particularly significant following its acquisition of the Electric Highway network from Ecotricity, which had been criticised for outdated and poorly maintained chargers. These issues resulted in the network ranking last in Zap-Map’s 2020 EV charging survey. Since acquiring the network in June 2021, Gridserve has actively worked to replace old chargers and enhance the network’s reliability, earning the title of ‘most improved’ network in the 2021 Zap-Map survey. By 2025, it had become the most utilised EV charging network, though it remains ranked fifth for the best charging networks.
The new 400kW-capable units are designed to meet the reliability and uptime standards outlined in the UK Public Charging Point Regulation, with Gridserve aiming for a 98% charging success rate. Rebecca Trebble, Chief Customer Officer at Gridserve, stated, “Our goal has always been to make EV charging easy and as dependable as filling up your car with petrol or diesel. By partnering with ABB E-mobility to introduce the A400, we’re setting a new benchmark for performance and reliability, both for the Gridserve Electric Highway and for the UK. This technology allows us to deliver faster charging and an even smoother customer experience at scale.”
The A400 charger can deliver up to 400kW of ultra-rapid charging power, enabling the latest EVs to add over 100 miles of range in under 10 minutes, subject to vehicle specifications. It features two CCS charging ports, allowing simultaneous charging of two vehicles, with dynamic power sharing to modulate power based on individual vehicle charging profiles.
The new 32-inch touchscreen interface is designed to simplify the process of plugging in, selecting a tariff, and paying, enhancing user experience across Gridserve’s network. Bruno Bourguet, Head of Europe Region and Channels, commented, “Innovation in charging technology is key to making electric driving effortless, and Gridserve’s deployment of our latest A400 charger marks a milestone for UK drivers. The A400 has been built from the ground up to bring reliability, scalability and performance to EV charging. With its intuitive design, including an award-winning user experience and interface, it sets a new benchmark for easy-to-use and easy-to-operate charging.”
