Motor Trader The award-winning and longest running UK magazine for car retailing professionals. Your first stop for News, Jobs and Reports for the motor industry.
A BMW dealership in Lincoln has installed what is claimed to be the the fastest EV charger in the UK
Soper Lincoln BMW has installed two ultra-rapid ABB Terra 360 electric vehicle chargers that can charge an EV in less than 15 minutes. The new units will enable Soper’s team to add 62 miles of range in less than three minutes.
Andrew Tullie, dealer principal at Soper Lincoln BMW, said: “We’re excited that BMW drivers in Lincoln are the first in the UK to benefit from this latest charging technology.
One of the Terra 360 units at Soper of Lincoln is on the dealership forecourt, while the other is by the 15-bay service workshop.
Joe Ellwood, EV charging product specialist at ABB, said: “It’s important to think ahead and ensure the right infrastructure is installed at car dealerships and other forecourts.
“Soper of Lincoln BMW is taking action in the wake of World EV Day 2022. Importantly, this project is also acting as a pilot for other installations of the Terra 360 ultra-rapid charger.
“We’re already working on projects to install Terra 360 units elsewhere in the UK, so it’s exciting to see customers using this pioneering installation at the heart of the country.”
The Terra 360 units are dual-outlet units, meaning that two vehicles can charge simultaneously using the combined charging system (CCS) connection. CCS is the standard charging solution for BMW’s range of EVs.
By mid-2023, ABB will be releasing a four-outlet version of the Terra 360 to the UK to share power between up to four vehicles at once. This will maximise return of investment for forecourts, since one unit will be able serve 90kW of power to four drivers simultaneously.