Contact us: 01147069953 contact@gigawatt.co.uk

Westmorland
Gloucester Services

Gigawatt Industries, in partnership with Evolt, has successfully delivered a dual-site ultra-rapid EV charging installation at Westmorland's Gloucester Services on the M5 motorway. This comprehensive turnkey project established 14 high-power charging points across both northbound and southbound service stations, creating a strategic charging hub on one of the UK's busiest motorway corridors between junctions 11A and 12.

The extensive project covered all civil and electrical works across both sites, delivering 5.6MW of combined charging capacity with minimal disruption to the busy service station operations. By delivering this future-proof EV charging infrastructure, Gigawatt Industries is playing a key role in expanding sustainable mobility solutions and strengthening the ultra-rapid charging network on the UK's strategic road network.

Scope of Work

Charger Installation:

14 units of i-charging 150kW ultra-rapid DC chargers (8 units southbound, 6 units northbound), providing high-speed charging for up to 28 electric vehicles simultaneously.

Electrical Systems Setup:

Our team installed feeder pillars and power units, routing high-capacity power cables using industry-standard ducting, ensuring a stable and efficient power supply for the ultra-rapid chargers. Full DNO coordination and connection management ensured seamless grid integration.

Civil Engineering Works:

We carried out excavation, trenching, and construction of foundations to support the chargers and their associated infrastructure. Removal of vegetation and careful navigation around existing utilities including streetlight ducts ensured safe and efficient site preparation.

Site Management:

We implemented comprehensive traffic management and Chapter 8 barriers to maintain safe operations throughout the installation period. Lockable site containers and welfare facilities were provided for the installation teams working across both locations.

Documentation and Compliance:

We maintained comprehensive RAMS documentation, daily project logs, and extensive photographic records including ground and drone imagery to ensure full transparency and stakeholder communication throughout the project lifecycle.

Key Features

Ultra-Rapid Dual-Site EV Charging Infrastructure – Installation of 14×150kW electric vehicle charging stations across northbound and southbound service stations to support high-speed charging for motorway users.

Comprehensive Civil & Electrical Works – Full turnkey installation, including 28 power units, 2 LV feeder pillars, cabling, and infrastructure enhancements across both sites.

Motorway Service Station Deployment – Carefully planned construction to minimize disruption to busy service station operations while optimizing accessibility for EV drivers.

Strategic Corridor Coverage – Complete charging provision on both carriageways ensures comprehensive coverage for M5 traffic in both directions.

Turnkey Project Delivery – Complete design, installation, and commissioning by Gigawatt, ensuring seamless execution from start to finish across parallel site programmes.

Outcomes

The newly implemented ultra-rapid EV charging hub at Westmorland Gloucester Services enhances the motorway user experience by providing accessible, reliable, and future-ready charging facilities at a premium service station location. This project reaffirms Gigawatt Industries' dedication to supporting infrastructure development for the EV transition while addressing the growing demand for high-power charging on the UK's strategic road network.

The successful delivery of parallel northbound and southbound installations demonstrates Gigawatt's capability to manage complex multi-site programmes with shared resources and overlapping timelines, delivering both projects on schedule and to specification.

Charger Specifications

Power Output: Ultra-rapid 150kW chargers providing high-speed charging capability with CCS connectors, supporting the latest generation of electric vehicles with fast charging capabilities.

Capacity: Combined installation of 28 power units across 14 charging stations, delivering 5.6MW of total charging capacity to serve high-volume motorway traffic.

Reliability: Evolt chargers designed for high-uptime performance in demanding public charging environments, with robust construction suitable for outdoor motorway service station deployment.

User Experience: Intuitive interface providing real-time charging updates and multiple payment options for convenient motorway charging stops.

Durability and Protection: Chargers designed to be highly resistant to the elements, ensuring long-term reliability in all weather conditions typical of UK motorway locations.

Electrical Infrastructure

Feeder Pillar Installation:

Installation of LV feeder pillars on both northbound and southbound sites to serve as the backbone of power distribution, supporting the high-capacity ultra-rapid charging infrastructure.

Power Unit Configuration:

28 power units installed across both sites (16 southbound, 12 northbound) to deliver distributed power to the charging stations.

Cable Infrastructure:

High-capacity power cables routed through protective ducting systems, connecting the feeder pillars to individual charging units with appropriate segregation and protection.

Grid Connection:

Full coordination with the DNO to ensure adequate supply capacity and proper connection for the high-power charging installation.

Safety Systems:

Comprehensive earth leakage protection and safety systems installed to protect equipment and users in accordance with electrical regulations.

Civil Engineering Works

Trenching and Excavation

Preparing both sites by digging precise trenches to accommodate power and data cabling required for the ultra-rapid EV charging infrastructure.

Ducting Installation

Laying durable ducts within the trenches to protect and manage electrical and communication cables efficiently across both northbound and southbound installations.

Concrete Foundations

Constructing robust concrete bases to securely support the 400kW chargers and associated power units.

Reinstatement

Restoring disturbed surfaces to their original condition once installations are complete, maintaining the high standards expected at premium motorway service stations.

Site Preparation

Removal of vegetation and careful exposure and protection of existing utilities to ensure safe installation progress.