Motorway service stations having to build their own solar farms beside the road to power electric cars because they can’t connect to the grid

Moto is developing solar farms beside its motorway service stations to supply electricity for electric vehicle charging, as grid connections are taking too long to keep pace with demand. The plans show how infrastructure delays could hinder the expansion of rapid charging across Britain’s motorways.

The company, which operates 70 service stations, has secured consent for four solar sites, including a 7-megawatt array at Wetherby, and is negotiating over 11 more. Its other projects include a 7.15-megawatt site at Donington Park and a 4-megawatt site at Stirling, with battery storage planned. Moto says grid connections can take four years; Department for Transport analysis found that in July 2024 only about one in ten motorway service areas in England had enough power capacity to meet rapid-charging demand through to at least 2035.