WORK has begun on building a 'rapid charging hub', providing electric vehicle charging.

InstaVolt has broken ground for eight state of the art high powered chargers in Banbury, said to be among the fastest in the UK, which will be switched on later this summer.

Located just off the M40 at Junction 11, drivers will be able to charge their electric vehicles while enjoying an array of facilities including a Costa Coffee, Frankie & Benny’s restaurant and a Miller and Carter steakhouse.

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Adrian Keen, CEO of InstaVolt, said: “Strategically Banbury Hub is very important to us as it sits just off one of the country’s busiest motorways, serving the capital in one direction and the UK’s second city Birmingham, in the other.

"With eight chargers it means drivers will be able to rely on a recharge when they need it most and they will also have the benefit of enjoying the facilities on site while they charge.”

Mr Keen added: “A lack of charging infrastructure on the country’s motorways is often cited as a concern for current and prospective EV drivers. We are solving that problem by deploying chargers where drivers need them most by developing sites up and down the road network just a few hundred metres from motorway junctions.”

InstaVolt believes charging an electric vehicle should be quick and easy which is why it operates an ‘open charger’ model, so anyone can use its charging points on a pay-as-you-go basis.

No monthly subscription and no membership cards are required with drivers just needing a contactless payment card to start a charging session.

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Victoria Prentice, MP for North Oxfordshire, said: “Improving access to charging points so more people can consider an electric vehicle to reduce emissions on our roads is a step in the right direction. I am so pleased to see North Oxfordshire leading the way as we become more eco-friendly."