Expanding ultra-rapid charging at Moto Exeter

Project summary:

• Sector: E-Mobility | EV Charging
• Client: Moto Hospitality
• Location: Moto Exeter, United Kingdom
• Scope: Design | Civil Engineering | EV Installation | Power Distribution | Communications | Commissioning | EV Maintenance

Key outcomes:

• Created a new 24-bay Moto CHARGE ultra-rapid charging hub at Moto Exeter, featuring double-canopy bays
• Delivered the project on time through a 12-week onsite programme, ready for the peak summer holiday period
• Built a dedicated 2 MVA substation and associated low-voltage infrastructure to provide the power required by the new hub
• Integrated monitoring and power management to help control charging demand across the site
• Completed a complex EV installation within a fully operational motorway service area while maintaining customer access
• Provided continuity beyond handover through Actemium E-Mobility’s ongoing maintenance support for Moto CHARGE

Increasing charging capacity at Moto Exeter

Moto Hospitality is the UK’s largest owner and operator of motorway service areas, with a growing Moto CHARGE network of ultra-rapid charging hubs across its UK estate.

Moto Exeter is an important EV charging destination for motorists travelling through the South West and towards Devon and Cornwall, with demand increasing further during the busy summer holiday period.

To meet this while also enhancing the customer experience, Moto required a new EV charging hub close to the main building entrance. The hub needed to provide high-speed charging within easy reach of the site’s food and beverage facilities, while meeting Moto CHARGE’s design requirements and technical specifications.

Delivering the electrical and civil infrastructure behind the chargers

Actemium UK delivered the civil and electrical infrastructure needed to support the EV installation, bringing power to the site, connecting the charging equipment and integrating the new facility into the existing motorway service area.

The civil works included excavation and installation of duct routes, cable corridors and equipment bases. A key feature was the bespoke design and construction of the foundations for a double-canopy arrangement – a configuration unique within the Moto portfolio – which required careful coordination with the wider charging layout and added a further level of engineering complexity.

The charging areas were then prepared to accommodate the new equipment and provide the foundations for the completed hub. Together, these works created the physical infrastructure needed to connect the substation, feeder pillars and chargers safely and efficiently.

At the centre of the electrical solution was a new 2 MVA substation, installed adjacent to the site’s existing high-voltage network. From the transformer, two sets of low-voltage cables were routed through the new ductwork to two feeder pillars, with each feeder pillar serving six ABB A400 chargers and providing power to the 24 charging bays.

An ABB gateway was installed between the feeder pillars, linking the charging infrastructure through dedicated data connections. This provided site-level monitoring and power management, helping to control charging demand across the hub and make effective use of the available electrical capacity.

Delivering on time within a live motorway service area

Delivering a major EV installation within a busy motorway service area required careful planning around customers, site operations and the programme.

The Moto CHARGE hub was constructed within the customer car park, requiring Actemium to closely coordinate health and safety, access arrangements, construction activities and workspace to minimise disruption.

With the summer holiday period approaching, programme certainty was particularly important. Actemium completed the onsite delivery within 12 weeks and handed the new hub over on time, ready to provide additional charging capacity for motorists heading towards Devon and Cornwall during one of the busiest periods of the year.

The construction footprint was also actively managed throughout delivery. As major civil works were completed, the site compound was progressively reduced, returning parking and circulation space to Moto ahead of busier trading periods.

A proactive and adaptable approach was essential when unexpected site conditions were encountered. For example, despite utility surveys and site investigations, excavation works identified an uncharted medium-pressure gas main close to the planned transformer position.

Because the excavation had been brought forward early in the programme, the issue was identified before it could significantly affect subsequent activities. Actemium worked with the relevant stakeholders to reposition the transformer by approximately 1.5 metres, secure the necessary approvals and update the connection arrangements.

This helped protect the programme, maintain safety and minimise disruption, contributing to the successful on-time delivery of the hub.

Supporting performance beyond handover

The new Moto CHARGE hub provides Moto Hospitality with additional ultra-rapid charging capacity at an important motorway location, backed by dedicated electrical infrastructure designed around the demands of high-power EV charging.

Key benefits include:

• Greater charging capacity: 24 additional ultra-rapid charging bays increase availability for EV drivers using Moto Exeter
• Programme certainty: the project was completed on time through a 12-week onsite programme, ensuring the hub was ready for peak summer demand
• Dedicated power infrastructure: the new 2 MVA substation provides the electrical capacity needed to support high-power charging
• Managed power demand: ABB gateway technology provides monitoring and control across the charging hub
• Improved customer experience: the Moto CHARGE hub is positioned close to the main services entrance
• Business continuity: careful phasing and management of the construction footprint kept the motorway services operational throughout delivery
• Long-term asset performance: ongoing maintenance support from Actemium E-Mobility helps protect the reliability and availability of the Moto CHARGE infrastructure

The project builds on Actemium UK’s growing relationship with Moto Hospitality, supporting Moto CHARGE infrastructure from initial engineering and EV installation through to commissioning and ongoing maintenance.

By combining electrical engineering, civil engineering, power infrastructure, project delivery and lifecycle support, Actemium UK provides bespoke EV charging solutions built around customers’ operational requirements, programme priorities and long-term performance.