A Californian electric car charging point provider will open its new European base in Banbury – as it eyes expansion into the UK and the wider continent.

FreeWire, which is currently working with BP to install ultra-fast chargers on the continent, said the Oxfordshire offices would be home to its European team.

European head of sales James Jean-Louis said: “FreeWire is well-positioned to tap into the growing European market.

"We see a major opportunity to offer reliable, flexible, and cost-effective infrastructure that can be deployed quickly to support the rapid increase in demand for ultrafast EV charging in Europe."

The market for EV charging is certainly growing. Last year, a £5.4m scheme saw 250 electric vehicle charging points installed in 20 car parks across Oxfordshire. The points were installed by EZ-Charge, based in Bicester, and funded by government grants.