Osprey Charging, one of the UK’s leading electric vehicle (EV) charging networks, has completed the freehold purchase of a two-acre plot at Twyford Services on the A46, near Evesham. This strategic acquisition will enable the development of a class-leading EV charging hub, with planning permission and grid connection for 16 300kW ultra-rapid chargers already secured. This new development is one of hundreds of EV charging hubs being built by Osprey Charging across the UK, supported by the company’s recent investment boost from Cube Infrastructure Management and Investec Bank. This cash injection will be integral to Osprey’s ambitious growth plans over the next two years. The purchase is the latest freehold acquisition from Osprey following the award-winning Salmon’s Leap hub in Devon, and the recent acquisition of a site in Paisley, Scotland. Further announcements are expected in 2024 as part of Osprey’s strategy of deploying high-power EV charging hubs on the UK’s strategic road network. Located at the Twyford Services, on the busy A46 linking Cheltenham, Evesham and Coventry, the site is an ideal location for an ultra-rapid charging hub that will serve both local residents and long-distance travellers, providing a much-needed boost to the region’s EV infrastructure. The site is already home to several well-known tenants, including Costa, KFC, Premier Inn, Beefeater Restaurant, and Texaco Petrol Station. These amenities will offer a range of options for EV drivers to enjoy while their vehicles are charging, making Twyford Services a convenient and attractive stopover. Ian Johnston, CEO of Osprey Charging, said: “Here at Osprey, we are continuing to ramp up our fast-paced roll-out of public EV chargers, and the acquisition of this two-acre site at Twyford Services is another great step forward for our network, and for the UK’s EV drivers. Purchasing freehold sites is an important strategy for us, offering greater flexibility and control over the design of the charging hub, ultimately making it more user-friendly for our customers. “With planning permission secured for 16 chargers to be installed at the hub, this acquisition will provide EV drivers with a high-quality and reliable charging solution in a key location on the UK’s road network. The 16 chargers at Twyford Services will be another successful example of our hub strategy, with 10 high-powered hubs already delivered this year alone, keeping us on track to hit our target of installing 30 hubs by year’s end.” As the UK moves closer to the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel vehicles, the demand for reliable and accessible EV charging infrastructure continues to grow. Osprey Charging is committed to meeting this demand by providing state-of-the-art charging solutions that cater to all types of EVs and drivers, with over 80 sites expected to be built in 2024. Osprey delivered more rapid chargepoints than any other operator in 2023 and has already installed more than 200 chargepoints in 2024, consolidating its position as not just one of the largest, but one of the most trusted charging operators in the UK. In 2023, Osprey was crowned Chargepoint Operator of the Year at the Electric Vehicle Innovation & Excellence (EVIE) Awards 2023 and Zap Map Driver Recommended Network for Customer Satisfaction for the fourth year running. Osprey charging locations are consistently scored highly for safety and accessibility by independent inspection body ChargeSafe, and the network was once again rated in the UK Top 3 for customer satisfaction in 2023 by the annual Zapmap EV Driver Survey. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Osprey Charging, the UK’s leading and fastest-growing EV rapid-charging network, has released research confirming that nearly nine in ten UK commercial landlords (87%) surveyed feel that installing public EV charging at their sites is important for attracting new; and retaining existing customers (86%). After polling 500 commercial landlords across the UK, Osprey found that the vast majority think that providing public EV chargers brings numerous commercial benefits. An overwhelming 86% said that it is important for retaining customers, while over four fifths (84%) said that it increases their chances of being able to rent their space out to businesses, decreasing void rates. Similarly, 85% believe that EV charging is important for ensuring their site is an in-demand space in the future whilst three-quarters (75%) said that it leads to longer dwell times from visitors, and 72% think that it leads to increased total customer footfall. The survey also found that commercial landlords agree on the environmental and health benefits of EV charging. Four in five (80%) believe it supports local decarbonisation efforts, with 78% agreeing it leads to better air quality, and three-quarters (75%) saying it reduces noise pollution on site. With the roll-out of public EV chargers continuing at a rapid rate, installing EV charging at commercial spaces continues to remain a priority for UK commercial landlords. Nearly three-quarters (72.4%) currently offer public EV charging at up to half of their spaces. Jake Goldby, Head of Acquisitions at Osprey Charging, said: “Installing public EV charging is becoming an essential requirement for UK commercial landlords who want to stay competitive and meet customer demands. From the financial benefits of higher customer footfall and greater future renting opportunities to the environmental benefits, this research has provided us with fascinating insights into why more and more are offering EV charging on their sites. “Partnering with commercial landlords has been integral for Osprey in allowing us to increase the roll-out of our charging infrastructure, which now has over 1,000 public high-powered EV chargers in rural and urban locations across the UK. We’re delighted to see that this research shows that they remain committed to supporting the roll-out of public charging infrastructure across the UK.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Fastned, the European fast charging company and the UK’s best rated en-route charging network, is offering to work with British and Irish independent petrol station owners to cover the costs of decommissioning and remediating their forecourts. In exchange, Fastned will lease the land from the owners and build an ultra-rapid electric vehicle (EV) charging hub. This will help scale up the UK and Ireland’s ultra-rapid charging network and get more EV drivers on the road. Petrol station owners who want to use their land for any other commercial purpose usually need to safely decommission the large underground fuel tanks located on their site, and remove the contaminated soil from decades of leakage. This can make the transition to EV charging an expensive, and so risky, endeavour.  Fastned is expanding its charging network in the UK and is looking for sites for charging hubs that are in busy locations that make it easy for EV drivers to charge. Independent petrol station owners with sites that meet Fastned’s location criteria can access Fastned’s “A Clean Start” offer to help with the costs of cleaning up their sites.   With a long-term commercial lease in place, Fastned will then use its in-house design and construction teams to develop the site into an ultra-rapid charging hub, with multiple 400kW chargers, which it will then operate as part of its growing network. Former petrol station owners may get a cut of the annual turnover from the hub in addition to guaranteed rental income, depending on the commercial agreement.  Additionally, with the number of EVs on UK roads predicted to grow to two million vehicles over the next two years, and EV sales up 45% in Ireland in 2023 compared to 2022, more public charging hubs will be needed to meet demand. This is likely to cause a rush to secure power connections across the UK and Ireland. Fastned’s offer allows independent petrol station owners to take action now and get ahead of their competitors to meet this growing demand, establishing their locations as the go-to sites for local and regional charging needs.  Tom Hurst, UK Country Manager, Fastned said: “With this offer we’re putting our money where our mouth is. We’re serious about ramping up the roll-out of the UK and Ireland’s charging network, and we’re excited to work with petrol station owners that want to be at the forefront of the EV transition. Collaboration is key to making EVs the new norm, so we’re calling out to all independent petrol station owners that want to get ahead of the curve and make a Clean Start – if you’re interested, get in touch.”  For twelve years Fastned has been providing EV drivers with a reliable and easy-to-use ultra-rapid charging service. A market leader in the Netherlands, Fastned has over 300 charging hubs across seven different European countries. This includes 21 charging hubs in the UK with a total of 112 charging points each offering up to 300 miles of range in 20 minutes.   Each Fastned charging hub has either yellow illuminated wings or nature-inspired wooden solar canopies that make them visible to drivers. This reassures existing EV drivers that they can plug in, power up and drive off within minutes, and shows drivers that have not yet made the switch what is available to them. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Improving capacity, modernising an older production line design, speedier materials handling, and reduced energy consumption were some of the enhancements Promtek engineered when the process control specialist overhauled an entire plant design and production line. Saint Gobain is a worldwide leader in light and sustainable construction materials. Since 1984, its Reynosa factory in Mexico has been involved in the manufacture and sale of solid and nonwoven fibre abrasives (such as abrasive pads and wheels). Promtek developed a complete turnkey solution for the factory which had the purpose of filling boxes with a predetermined number of ingredients/materials. The redesigned Reynosa trolley dispensing system consists of 250 individual ingredient locations arranged in two rows over approximately 50m of track. With a laser guided trolley that has two weigh scales per unit, the whole system can handle five boxes simultaneously. The overall system specification consists of: In what was a highly intensive, six figure value project, Promtek applied its twenty years of specialist R&D experience, bringing proven ideas and designs to bar on this unique project. Promtek revisited the original innovative solution, re-engineered it, and implemented significant improvements. As the new system was going to be twice the size in load capacity and volume, the technology needed to be brought up to date to meet the customer’s considerable performance requirements. Charles Williams, Promtek’s Managing Director, explained: “The opportunity to innovate and improve is always an excellent motivator but so is delivering the best solution for St Gobain. Previously, a total system had been designed for a smaller factory in Stafford. Despite this factory being one of the smallest in the group, it was the best performing, meaning Promtek sought collaboration with the engineers, designers, and everyone else involved. Engineering should be universal with core concepts and solutions able to be shared across borders.” To complement and support the new production solution Promtek installed the Kestrel Control System, an advanced system that featured a bespoke software design supplied by a subcontractor, Aptech Powder Handling Systems. Working collaboratively, the two companies created the mechanical design of a first generation total process system to then create a brand-new second generation system which resulted in leaner maintenance, reduced downtime, and improved workforce utilisation, amongst a multitude of other modernisation benefits. Promtek built a full working 1:10 scale prototype in the UK. 1:10 scale was an appropriate model size as it enabled the full system to be demonstrated with correct relative speed, size, and operation of the laser guidance systems. Laser positioning, which is accurate to the millimetre, helped the system to be flexible and fast. Trolleys and tanks could have their positions changed as necessary, meaning loading and unloading positions could be adjusted and manipulated as required. St Gobain’s Jaime Guzman commented: “This was a complex but incredibly exciting project across international borders. Promtek engineers designed an excellent system which far exceeded all the factory’s current needs. They are known for exceptional engineering, and we were delighted with the results. “As a construction materials manufacturer we make a wide range of different, complex products that can be strangely shaped, or obtuse, or abrasive. Our system must be millimetre accurate and precise, and with the expert engineering support available at Promtek the system has been completely reliable since completion.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals