The UK’s latest EV quick charging network, RAPID EV, installed by Chargemaster across six sites in Wiltshire, is now open for business.

UK’s Minister for Transport, Baroness Kramer, officially opened the network during a special event held Monday, November 3 2014.

The RAPID EV network has been set up by Wiltshire Council and partially funded by the UK government’s Office for Low Emission Vehicles.

The charging points, located in public parkings in Salisbury, Melksham, Warminster, Trowbridge, Corsham and Chippenham, are of the type that can charge an electric car to 80 percent of its capacity in a little over 20 minutes.

Chargemaster said each charging point is ‘triple-standard’ with three separate plugs to connect to the widest possible range of electric vehicles, including a DC 44 kilowatt CHAdeMO plug, a DC 44 kilowatt CCS Combi plug and an AC 43 kilowatt Type 2 plug.

Baroness Kramer mentioned in her speech all six RAPID EV charge points are free for EV drivers to use, with only normal parking charges applying at each of the sites.

“More and more people are switching to plug-in vehicles, with more than 5,000 sold in the last three months,” said Transport Minister Baroness Kramer. “We need the right infrastructure to keep building that momentum. Providing charge points like these means people can be confident that they can charge their car when they are out and about.”

All RAPID EV charging points are said to be linked to Chargemaster’s national POLAR network, with access via the POLAR charging card, as well as smartphone APP based access at www.polarinstant.com.

Source: Hybrid Cars