IONITY, the high-powered charging (HPC) specialist, today announces the opening of its latest site at the Hilton Leicester as part of its wider partnership with Valary Hotels. The 24-charger hub, one of IONITY’s largest in Europe, will further open up the M1 as a mainstay of electric vehicle (EV) travel, and is expected to attract thousands of new customers to the hotel every week.
With around 140,000 vehicles using the M1 daily, the Hilton Leicester site on J21 will provide charging speeds of up to 400kW – enough to add over 100 miles of range to compatible vehicles in under ten minutes. Both hotel guests and non-hotel guests will be able take advantage of EV charging along their journeys, all powered by 100% renewable energy.
As a full-service hotel with amenities on-site, the announcement also forms part of the Hilton Leicester’s wider strategy to establish itself as a community hub and destination charging point. The opening of its first Rest and Recharge centre — also to be rolled out at its site in South Normanton — offers rare 24/7 access to coffee, food, and EV charging no matter the circumstances.
“This isn’t just about a commercial rent deal or land, but about partnership with the businesses that compliment us and what we represent”, comments Rajiv Nathwani, Director, Valary Hotels. “We’re providing an important service to the local community, enabling the decarbonisation of transport, and futureproofing our business all at the same time.
“As an EV driver since 2015, I’ve personally experienced the frustration that comes from a lack of accessible, high-quality charging points. The speed and quality of IONITY’s infrastructure, and the ease of use at the hubs themselves, made partnering with them an easy decision.”
“The EV industry isn’t just about enabling travel, but about enabling new experiences — which is an incredible opportunity for hospitality businesses,” agrees Andreas Atkins, Head of UK&I, IONITY. “Partnering with established, reputable providers like Valary Hotels will add a painless, seamless, incredibly quick charging experience to the qualities that the Hilton Leicester can already offer, and allow an entirely new audience of EV drivers to enjoy them.”
