New hub: Scotland gains TWO new high-powered charging hubs

• New public rapid charging hubs at The Queen of the Loch pub and restaurant in Balloch, and Caledonian Retail Park in Wishaw, have six and eight super-fast EV chargers (respectively) compatible with every Electric Vehicle (EV) on the market
• Chargers will add up to 100 miles of range in around 15-20 minutes of charge, depending on the vehicle and its battery
• Hubs will bolster Scottish national EV charging infrastructure, improve local air quality, reduce noise pollution and support local decarbonisation efforts
• Osprey is one of the UK’s largest EV charging networks and has been ranked in the top UK networks for customer satisfaction by Zap-Map three years running

Osprey Charging, one of the UK’s largest and leading electric vehicle (EV) charging networks, has increased access to public charging in Scotland with the opening of two new charging hubs. Installed at Queen of the Loch pub and restaurant in Balloch, and at Caledonian Retail Park in Wishaw, the hubs are conveniently positioned near major routes to support local residents, businesses and Scotland’s visitors with reliable EV infrastructure.

The Queen of the Loch boasts six 300kW charge points, each able to add 100 miles of range in under 20 minutes. The hub is perfectly positioned at the gateway to the stunning Scottish Highlands and Islands, minutes from the shores of Loch Lomond and main A roads in Balloch.

Caledonian Retail Park has eight 300kW chargers for customers to use, each also capable of adding 100 miles of range in under 20 minutes. With coffee and food-to-go from Greggs and Burger King, the retail park is a convenient pit stop for drivers on the M74 south-east of Glasgow, just a few minutes’ drive from the motorway.

These hubs bring Osprey’s Scottish network to 62 rapid and ultra-rapid charge points across 25 locations, and counting – the next hub is already underway in southwest Glasgow.

The chargers are easy to use and designed with simple payment for drivers, accepting contactless bank cards, Apple/Google Pay, the Osprey App and RFID card payments as well as payments through all major third-party payment methods including fleet cards.

The charging hub at Loch Lomond has also recently seen the EV Rally of Scotland (EVROS) pass through, showcasing the capability of electric vehicles in a two-day 600-mile event, beginning and ending in Glasgow.

Access to charging is one of the biggest barriers to EV adoption and these new hubs are expected to encourage EV uptake in the area and amongst visitors, improving local air quality, reducing noise pollution and supporting local decarbonisation efforts.

As EV uptake increases across the country ahead of the 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles, more and more of Scotland’s residents and visitors will look for EV charging as standard. Osprey has funded this installation, operation and oversees maintenance of the chargers which are all supplied with renewable energy. Marston’s Brewery Group and Leftfield Capital, the landlords for the sites, benefit from a future-proofed car park and being able to attract more EV driver footfall to their assets.

Osprey charging locations are consistently scored highly for safety and accessibility by independent inspection body ChargeSafe, and Osprey is in the Top 3 UK Chargepoint Network Operators for both personal safety and accessibility.