From AA to EV: Duracell’s Bold New Charge

Duracell launches £200M plan for 100+ UK fast-charging sites by 2030, plugging into the EV race

27 Oct 2025

Duracell is swapping toy cars for Teslas. The battery icon, long associated with remote controls and flashlights, has unveiled plans to charge into Britain’s electric vehicle future.

In October 2025, the company announced Duracell E-Charge, a £200 million effort to build one of the country’s fastest and most reliable EV charging networks. The rollout targets more than 100 sites and 500 charge-points by 2030, with the first installations already underway.

Partnering with The EV Network and Elektra Charge, Duracell promises ultra-fast chargers capable of delivering up to 1,000 kilowatts, enough to make long pit stops a thing of the past. The sites will cluster along motorways, retail parks, and urban gateways, aiming to make top-ups as easy as grabbing a coffee.

The move marks a sharp pivot from batteries in your kitchen drawer to powering national infrastructure. “We’re bringing Duracell reliability to the road,” said a company spokesperson. “Our goal is to make charging faster, easier, and more dependable for every driver.”

Analysts call the timing smart. EV adoption in the UK is soaring, but charging reliability still lags. With modular station designs and seasoned partners, Duracell hopes to bypass grid bottlenecks and build trust where frustration often reigns.

The company enters a crowded field that includes bp pulse, GRIDSERVE, and InstaVolt, yet its brand familiarity could prove a potent advantage. “Trust is currency in EV charging,” said an analyst from Aurora Energy Research. “Duracell’s name could nudge hesitant drivers toward electric.”

The challenge now is scale. Turning a battery brand into an energy network demands both capital and coordination. But if Duracell delivers, its famous copper top could soon stand for something bigger, powering not just toys but the nation’s journey toward a cleaner, faster future.