Electric vehicle (EV) charge point provider Ionity has installed a high-power 350kW charging station at the Leeds Skelton Lake Services, located on junction 45 of the M1.

It enables EV drivers to charge their electric cars in less than 20 minutes, depending on their vehicle’s charging capacity, using renewable energy from the Ionity High Power Charging points.

Leeds Skelton Lake is Ionity’s fourth station to be launched in the UK with seven others planned to follow in 2020, in co-operation with Extra MSA Group.

The network will introduce 40 new 350kW chargers, enabling drivers to cover long journeys across the country without range anxiety or concern about lengthy charging stops.

The Leeds installation is the first to feature Ionity’s new chargers that premiered at last year’s Frankfurt Motor Show. The new units use halo lighting to provide customers with information about the charging status of the battery and are easy to recognise for drivers while the illumination makes use in the hours of darkness more convenient too.

Marcus Groll, chief operating officer at Ionity, said: “Our continued expansion of the Ionity network in the UK signals our strategic commitment to enable long distance EV travel and to break down perceived barriers to EV usage in the UK.

“The reality is that 50 kW chargers no longer offer customers fast enough charging on motorways and key travel routes and will therefore not facilitate the transition to e-Mobility. Ionity’s chargers are prepared for the advancement of battery technology and EVs of the future. Our network makes long-distance e-Mobility a seamless experience.”

Ionity is a joint venture between Mercedes-Benz, Ford Motor Company, BMW Group and the Volkswagen Group to establish 400 High Power Charging stations across Europe, enabling hassle-free pan-European EV travel. With ultra-fast charging times and the selection of convenient motorway locations, Ionity’s network will make long distance journeys far more viable than much slower 50 kW alternatives. The 350 kW UK charging network is future-proofed, powered by 100% renewable energy and delivering infrastructure capable of charging times as low as 8 minutes for a 100km charge is already making e-mobility a convenient, reliable and everyday experience.