Started in 2018, RAW Charging has grown to be a prominent destination EV charging network with chargers conveniently placed at retail, leisure and hospitality sites.
We caught up with their CCO Neil Broadbank to chat all things charging, infrastructure and future plans!
Let's get plugged in..
We started RAW Charging 7 years ago with a clear vision to become the go-to destination charging provider, and to that end we are providing reliable and easy-to-use EV charging to host partners such as National Trust, Merlin Entertainments, McArthurGlen and Greene King.
We also have a number of strategically-located ultra-rapid charging hubs with industry leading landlords such as Abrdn and Aviva Investors.
Being impact-led and dynamic in everything that we do, and thinking about what’s important to our host partners, and importantly, their visitors and guests who use our chargers.
The first site on RAW’s network was with long-term host partner Greene King, at their new pub and hotel in Wiltshire, called The Churchill. RAW now operates over 1,800 EV charging points across the UK, France and Italy with double that expected to be in the ground over the next 12 months.
RAW are focused on what’s important to our host partners and their customers, first and foremost. Integrating a charging solution within the destinations that our chargers are placed is important, such as providing environment-specific charger branding within a natural National Trust place or providing an optimal amount of chargers during peak holiday times at one of Merlin’s famous visitor attractions.
On a site design level, RAW also recently become an accredited partner of ‘ChargeSafe’ which further enhances our commitment to accessibility and improving the safety of our drivers.
Consistently delivering best-in-class destination charging solutions for drivers and hosts is priority number one. Wrapped within this is the inevitable expansion on high footfall sites, as well as refining the end-to-end user experience.
We have a number of exciting new host partnerships developing in the background, and we are always open to exploring opportunities with like-minded hospitality, leisure and retail organisations looking for a long-term holistic solution.
We offer destination AC charging from 7kW, right up to 300kW+ ultra-rapid charging at our RAW Rapid charging hubs.
The future of the business is through partnerships. We’re working closing with all of our host partners to enhance the charging experience at every site, and there are a number of other strategic partnerships geared towards delivering best-in-class destination charging solutions at a mass market scale, such as our partnership with Octopus Electroverse.
We are clear in our vision of providing accessible charging in the places where people are already going in their daily lives, which ultimately helps alleviate battery range anxiety in the longer term.
RAW Circle is a platform for our valued partners to interact with all the Amazing Places and Partners currently on the RAW network, providing exclusive content and promotions.
We like to work with businesses that share our values and are proud to be working with Octopus Electroverse. This partnership will make a lasting impact by providing more public EV chargers available at a nationwide scale.
Tesla Roadster
I grew up in Cornwall and regularly drive down there from London. It’s a c. 300-mile trip and thanks to a now established public EV charging network I can comfortably get there with just one 15 minute charging stop.
With more retail, leisure and hospitality destinations having reliable charging facilities like ours on site, you can start to plan your journey around charging up when you get there, instead of just having to rely on top-ups on the way.
Firstly, get set for an enjoyable time (because you’ll be visiting one of our partners’ amazing places) and secondly, consider how you would like to use our chargers, you have a multitude of easy options including [using your Electroverse app/card], driver app, or contactless debit/credit card on any of our DC chargers].
Try not to take more charge than you need at busy motorway locations during peak season/holiday times. Many charge point operators are working hard to invest in the expansion of their charging hubs, but there are just some general electrical infrastructure power limitations which mean this process may take a little longer.
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