Australian EV charging company Jolt has launched its free roadside charger stations in the UK as part of global expansion plans.

Jolt plans to roll out 100+ stations in London in the next few months – and thousands across the UK in coming years

The firm, which is on a mission to make electric vehicles more accessible to drivers through zero-cost and fast charging, has initially partnered with the London Borough of Barnet to debut its network of free, fast and clean roadside charger stations.

It’s swiftly following this with plans to roll out 100+ stations in London in the next few months – and thousands across the UK in coming years.

Jolt’s proposition centres around offering UK EV drivers 7kWh, or around 30 miles, of free, fast charging, with the cost of charging offset though its integrated out-of-home advertising network.

Based on the company’s internal research, EV drivers who charge with Jolt can save up to £840 annually on charging expenses.

It’s a business model already tried and tested with the firm’s existing networks in Australia and New Zealand; Jolt has also recently partnered with Canadian national telecommunications company Telus to roll out 5,000 EV chargers.

The partnership in Barnet follows a £2.1m funding grant to the London Borough as part of the Government’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) pilot project.

Councillor Alan Schneiderman, Cabinet Member for Environment & Climate Change, commented: “As well as clean air, our ambition is for Barnet to be net zero by 2042 and, as such, we need to continue to work with our communities and partners to find the right solutions to get us there – joining the Jolt EV charging network is part of this.”

Jolt’s DC fast chargers offer the UK’s standard connecters, powering and ensuring compatibility with EV models on the road.

The company said its free charging model would help reduce barriers to EV ownership and accelerate e-mobility in the UK as a sustainable transport option.

John Rainford, UK country manager, Jolt, said: “Accelerating e-mobility, in a way that’s equitable and sustainable to all involved, is at the heart of what we do at Jolt. We are proud to express our commitment to making EV charging accessible through seamless customer experience, especially for those without home charging, and empowering EV ownership in the UK, while helping minimise emissions created by transport.

“Thanks to our partners who are working towards the same ambitious net zero goals, we anticipate accelerated growth and expansion of Jolt’s EV charging infrastructure across the country.”