Glasgow-based
TUAL Technology Ltd, a pioneering developer of swappable powerbanks and ultra-deployable charging solutions for commercial electric vehicles (EVs), has announced a strategic focus on the 8,000 UK -ranchised automotive retailers facing critical grid constraints, which need rapid charging for both customers and electric demonstrator vehicles.
Building on the success of recent fleet trials, TUAL is targeting dealership groups that lease their sites, where demand for test-drive readiness, vehicle pre-delivery preparation, and EV handovers is growing, but where charging infrastructure lags behind – and dealers cannot justify the upfront capital expenditure (CapEx) to obtain the required grid capacity.
TUAL’s battery-buffered PowerUp Charger offers a ‘pro-grade, fast, cost-effective and fully mobile charging solution’ that operates independently of costly grid upgrades. Fully installed in under an hour, the PowerUp Charger delivers high-speed 200kW DC charging on a standard 11kW supply previously only sufficient for trickle AC charging.
Philip Clarke, TUAL’s CEO and founder, said: “Automotive retailers are on the front line of the EV transition, but they are being let down by infrastructure that isn’t fit for purpose. Whether it is a showroom in an urban centre or a pre-delivery inspection site on the edge of town, many retailers are stuck with slow or non-existent charging. We are bringing them the same rugged, fast-deployment technology that is transforming logistics and fleet depots across the UK. PowerUp makes EV charging possible now, not in three years’ time.”
Jason Button, Cambria Property Investments’ managing director, said: “The installation of rapid chargers at hundreds of dealership sites across the UK is a pipe-dream; prohibitively high CapEx, in some cases it could be years waiting for a supply upgrade or additional grid connection, and potentially mired in planning red tape. TUAL’s off-grid PowerUp battery-based EV charger could solve those issues. It has the potential to allow dealers to provide high-speed charging, cost-effectively and installation is quick.”
According to TUAL’s data, up to 80% of overall automotive retail and preparation sites face serious power supply constraints. Grid upgrades typically take one to three years, at costs ranging from £150,000 to £3 million – an investment many dealerships simply cannot justify.
The PowerUp Charger sidesteps these constraints by buffering and storing energy off-peak, or integrating with on-site renewables, to enable DC charging up to 200kW at the point of use. This means faster turnround for EVs entering stock, readiness for customer handovers, enhanced test-drive experiences and the provision for customers to rapid-charge while they visit the dealership, which could become a strong differentiator.
TUAL intends to work with a select group of early-adopters in the UK and Europe, deploying PowerUp across retail networks that need to electrify quickly and flexibly with a robust, reliable solution that reflects brand-value requirements. The company’s automotive push follows a successful four-week trial with Wincanton, an industry-leading supply chain provider, which saw the PowerUp Charger support the daily operation of 19 fully electric vans quadrupling site charging output using just an 11kW connection.
Mr Clarke concluded: “Whether you are selling EVs or running them, you need charging to be fast, simple and reliable. TUAL exists to eliminate the barriers to electrification wherever they appear.”