In July 2024, SSE and TotalEnergies announced the creation of Source, a major new player in EV charging infrastructure in the UK and Ireland. With the joint ventures’ first branded ultra-rapid hub due to open in just a few weeks, the company tells us what we can expect from the new business

1. What can customers expect with the arrival of Source?

Within the next five years, the new business will deploy up to 3,000 new high-power charge points grouped in 300 EV hubs in the UK and Ireland – targeting a 20% market share. All our hubs will be designed and built with three key principles as our guide: Safety, Reliability and Accessibility.

We want our customers, both private and fleet drivers, to be able to find (or book) a working charge point where and when they need it, without having to queue, and be able to charge and leave on time. They will be simple to use, with contactless payment options, a 24/7/365 customer service operation, and an intuitive user interface.

It’s important that our hubs are located where they are needed, in urban, suburban and rural settings, and they must have a net positive impact on their local environment and economy. They’ll be supplied with renewable energy, and we’ll ensure, where possible, they boost the biodiversity of the local area, such as green roof canopies, as well as offering users access to convenient amenities, including toilets and the option of getting some shopping done whilst they wait.

We want our hubs to be the industry gold standard, designed, built, and operated with the needs of our customers at the heart of everything.

– Deepa Chandrasekaran, Managing Director of Source

2. How will a Source hub benefit landowners, local businesses and communities?

As more and more EVs appear on our roads, as they must meet our CO2 reduction targets, providing accessible and reliable charging can only be attractive to EV drivers. A Source hub will act like a magnet, with drivers using charging time to visit other facilities on the site. That’s a win for landowners in selling or leasing their land, as well as a win for the surrounding businesses.

An EV charging hub will showcase landowners as being sustainability- minded, and that’s appealing to a modern, eco-conscious consumer base and businesses keen to align themselves with initiatives designed to tackle climate change.

There are obvious benefits for local authorities in EV hubs, too. Apart from the fact that they’ll help you meet localised sustainability goals, a strategically placed hub can help reinvigorate an area, promoting investment and attracting more businesses.

A Source hub is typically a capital-free development for landowners and a source of additional revenue; Source will be responsible for the hub’s investment, maintenance and operation, committed to fixing any critical operational problems to ensure optimal availability.

– Patrick Howley, Delivery and Development Director

3. What role will the new and emerging technologies Source hubs incorporate to make the charging experience more user-friendly?

Source hubs will feature SSE’s innovative AI-powered Sentinel Sensor technology, tracking and monitoring everything from the best charging times and bay blocking trends to customer safety and biodiversity. We’ll use metadata the sensors gather to constantly inform the design of future hubs, ensuring they are always built with customer experience front and centre.

The hubs will be well-lit, with numerous parking bays to make them accessible to all drivers. SSE’s unique compact substation means the hubs will be space-efficient.

We plan to introduce a system which will allow fleet drivers to book bays at times that are business-critical to them, but we will ensure there are always bays available for private drivers, too. And where possible, the hubs will feature additional street furniture, including planters, green canopies, and living walls, to encourage biodiversity and create a more interesting environment for customers.

– Simon Pickett, Head of EV Assets and Technology

4. Why do we need another EV infrastructure company when there are already many in existence?

We don’t see the other companies operating in this space as rivals. If the UK is to meet its ambitious net zero targets, then we need to rapidly accelerate EV charging infrastructure rollout through collaboration.

This isn’t just about private EV owners. From 2030, the UK’s EV fleet will number more than 10 million vehicles, and the Department for Transport has committed to rolling out 300,000 public charge points by the end of the decade. Meeting this goal will not be achieved by one company alone but by a shared effort across the charge point sector, which invests £6 billion over the next five years. We will look to create a network of high-powered and easily accessible hubs located right where fleets need them.

We know that anxiety over range, delivery and charger availability have been key reasons why people and businesses have been hesitant to change to EV, but at Source, we are focused on providing the Assurance of Service which businesses need to have that confidence and to drive the UK and Ireland forward to a greener future.

– Sean O’Callaghan, Director of Operations