TotalEnergies & SSE Form Source To Boost EV Charging In UK & Ireland

As the electric vehicles (EV) industry charges on, companies are striving to address one of the biggest challenges hampering its growth – charging anxieties.

EV owners are keen on adopting the new technology as governments are trying to reduce carbon emissions, however, the time taken to charge vehicles and the lack of availability of such chargers and public charging stations pose concerns.

In comparison, internal combustion engines have better access to fuel and can top up in a matter of minutes.

Moreover, the need arises to power such chargers with sustainable and renewable energy.

This is what TotalEnergies, a global integrated energy company that produces and markets energies such as oil, biofuels, natural gas, green gases, renewables and electricity is aiming to solve, as it creates a new joint venture with SSE, a company that develops, builds, operates and invests in clean energy and world-class electricity infrastructure.

So, what did TotalEnergies And SSE reveal about their new joint venture? Let’s explore!
 

What Is The Joint Venture Between Total Energies And SSE About?

 

• Through news releases published on their websites, TotalEnergies and SSE announced that they have signed a binding agreement to create a new joint venture called Source.

• Source will be aimed at boosting the EV charging infrastructure in the UK and Ireland, by deploying up to 3,000 high power charging points (of 150 kW and more) in both countries.

• TotalEnergies currently has over 64,000 charge points in operation around the world.

• The idea is to meet the high demand from individual EV owners and fleet operators to access fast and reliable charging.

• The demand was propelled by a recent law passed by the UK Government enforcing zero vehicle emissions for all new cars and vans.

• Source will help overcome challenges faced in the decarbonization of the transportation industry by raising power supply infrastructure for EV owners and reducing EV charging anxieties.

• MP Lilian Greenwood, Minister for the Future of Roads, UK, said, “Source is a fantastic initiative with great potential to accelerate the UK’s transition to electric vehicles.”

• This move will also boost the Irish Government’s aim of putting around 1 million electric vehicles on roads by 2030.

• The agreement is subject to regulatory approvals by relevant authorities.

 

What Does Source’s EV Charging Plan Consist Of?

 

• The deployment of charging points is expected to be completed within the next five years.

• Source’s charging points will be grouped in 300 EV hubs and target 20% of the market share. These hubs will be established in prime locations and placed in and around urban areas.

• The charging points will be powered by renewable energy provided by TotalEnergies and SSE.

• Currently, several hubs are already under construction, with dozens more under development.

 

What Did TotalEnergies And SSE Executives Say?

 

• Mathieu Soulas, the Senior Vice President of New Mobility and Marketing at TotalEnergies, said, “TotalEnergies is proud to contribute to the development of electric mobility to decarbonize transportation in the UK and Ireland.”

• [Contd.] “This is a great opportunity to extend our network in Europe and stake out a key position as a reference high-power charging player. We want to offer our customers - passenger cars and fleet alike - a nationwide, ultra-fast and reliable charging service that allows them to travel efficiently with complete peace of mind.”

• [Contd.] “This development also contributes to our integrated power strategy in the UK, combining renewable and flexible power generation capacity, trading and marketing of low-carbon electricity available 24 hours a day.”

• Neil Kirkby, the Managing Director of Enterprise at SSE, said, “SSE is already playing a leading role in decarbonising the UK and Ireland’s power system including building the world’s largest offshore wind farm and transforming electricity networks.”

• [Contd.] “Now this agreement will help accelerate progress towards a decarbonised transport system too, ensuring the vehicles that keep the economy moving can do so in a more sustainable and efficient way.”

Do you think Source by TotalEnergies and SSE will help ease charging anxieties in the UK and Ireland, as well as the rest of Europe? Do you think the company’s competitors need to make similar moves?

Let us know in the comments below!