Extra MSA Group announced plans to nearly quadruple its electric vehicle charging infrastructure across its eight English motorway locations. The service station operator will expand from 60 to 234 ultra-rapid chargers by the end of 2026 through its partnership with Ionity.
The expansion represents a 290% increase in charging provision across Extra’s network. All eight locations will see improved facilities.
Three sites have already begun major upgrades. Cambridge, Cobham and Peterborough service stations now feature 24 Ionity chargers each, offering up to 350kW charging speeds.
Ionity will complete significant expansions at Leeds Skelton Lake, Blackburn and Baldock Services before year-end. These locations serve the M1, M65 and A1(M) corridors.
Extra became the first service station operator to meet government requirements for at least six ultra-rapid chargers at every motorway service area. The company says it’s responding to growing demand for fast en-route charging.
“Ionity’s 350kW ultra-fast charge points are some of the highest-powered and most efficient facilities available, reflecting our commitment to investing in the best possible customer experience,” said Tom Dobson, CEO at Extra MSA Group.
Dobson emphasized the company’s environmental commitments.
“We know that we have a part to play in driving forward the net zero agenda, so we’re determined to expand our EV charging provision by almost 300% by the end of 2026 and build on our legacy as the UK’s leading motorway service provider for our EV commitment.”
Andreas Atkins, Ionity’s country manager for the UK and Ireland, highlighted the broader infrastructure goals.
“Increasing 350kW chargers across England to meet the 2026 target, shows the demand for more sustainable travel, and aligns with our commitment to more than double the number of publicly available stations and charging points in the UK for the third consecutive year.”
All Ionity charging stations use 100% renewable energy. The network provides reliable charging across Europe for long-distance electric travel.
UK Charging Infrastructure Challenges
The UK now has more than 80,000 public charging devices nationwide. However, motorway charging provision has faced criticism from government officials.
The Public Affairs Committee noted in March that one-third of service stations hadn’t met the six-charger target deadline set for end-2023. The committee also criticized the Department for Transport for failing to allocate funds from the £950 million Rapid Charge Fund.
That fund was designed to support charger deployment on the strategic road network. The government has since scrapped the program entirely.
Extra’s expansion comes as demand for motorway charging continues growing. The company’s early achievement of government targets positioned it ahead of competitors in the race to meet EV driver needs.
