Source, the joint venture between SSE and TotalEnergies, has opened a new ultra-rapid electric vehicle (EV) charging hub at West One Retail Park in Eccles, helping to address Greater Manchester’s significant shortage of public charging infrastructure.
Launched today, the ten-bay hub features 150kW ultra-rapid chargers which allow most EV drivers to ‘charge and go’ in around 15 minutes, based on industry accepted charging session data. Located just south of the M602 and easily accessible from the A576, the facility serves West Manchester with much-needed high-speed charging.
The new hub represents a significant boost for Greater Manchester, which currently has less than half the number of public EV chargers per person compared to the England average. According to recent government data, the region has just 53.8 publicly available electric vehicle chargers per 100,000 people, while the average for England is 115.4.
The charging hub offers contactless payment options and 24/7 customer support, with an emphasis on user-friendly design. The facility is powered by renewable energy, utilising infrastructure from SSE and technology from TotalEnergies to provide both environmental benefits and convenient charging.
Deepa Chandrasekaran (pictured below), managing director at Source, said: “We’re excited to bring Source’s ultra-rapid charging to West One Retail Park, contributing to Greater Manchester’s growing EV infrastructure.
“This hub represents our commitment to creating accessible charging networks in all communities across the UK and Ireland. By strategically placing our facilities in high-traffic locations like this retail park, we’re making it easier for more drivers in the region to confidently make the switch to electric vehicles.”
West One Retail Park is home to a range of facilities including The Range, Smyths Toys, Pure Gym, Home Bargains, and McDonald’s, allowing drivers to shop or grab refreshments while charging. The site is also less than a mile from the busy M602 motorway, making it ideal for commuters.
Transport for Greater Manchester has set a target of 3,000 public chargers by 2025 as part of its Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Strategy. Source’s new hub contributes to narrowing this gap as the region works toward its 2038 carbon neutrality goal.
Source plans to deliver 300 new ultra-rapid hubs across the UK and Ireland over the next five years, with a focus on addressing regional disparities in charging infrastructure.
