The rapid rollout of electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the UK is generating a new category of HV and LV cable jointing work — EV charging feeder pillar connections, kerb-side charging units and the associated substation and cable infrastructure required to power them at scale. R&D Cable Jointing provides LV and HV jointing for EV charging infrastructure — from single feeder pillar connections through to 11kV substation installations powering large EV charging hubs.
EV Charging Infrastructure and the Electrical Challenge
Electric vehicle charging at scale requires significant electrical infrastructure. A single rapid charger may draw 50-150kW; a charging hub with 20 or more rapid chargers can require a 1MVA or greater supply — which means a new 11kV substation, HV cable runs from the nearest 11kV network, and extensive LV distribution from the substation to the individual chargers.
For kerb-side and destination charging at lower power levels, the connection is typically made from an existing LV network — but even here, the cumulative load from multiple units on the same feeder can require LV reinforcement, new cable sections, or the installation of feeder pillars to distribute power across a zone of kerb-side units.
Connected Kerbs & Kerb-Side EV Charging
Connected kerb systems — such as those provided by Connected Kerb, Urban Electric, Char.gy and similar operators — embed EV charging capability into kerb infrastructure, providing on-street charging for residents without off-street parking. The electrical supply to these systems typically comes from the local LV network, connected via a feeder pillar or direct LV connection.
We provide LV cable jointing, feeder pillar connections and associated cable works to support kerb-side EV charging deployments, working alongside local authorities, charge point operators and ICPs delivering these schemes.
- LV cable jointing for new cable runs from the distribution network to the feeder pillar position
- Feeder pillar connections and LV terminations
- Service connections and cutout terminations where required
- MSDB installation as part of the LV distribution design
- Cable identification and route tracing before excavation in existing streetscape
EV Charging Hub Substations
Larger EV charging hubs — rapid charging forecourts, motorway service area charging, fleet depot charging and commercial destination charging — require dedicated 11kV substation infrastructure to deliver the power required. This is where our HV jointing and substation installation capability becomes the critical enabling work for the project.
- 11kV cable jointing — connecting the new substation to the existing 11kV network, including straight joints, terminations into the new RMU or transformer and any diversions required along the cable route
- Substation installation — full fit-out of the new substation building or kiosk, including earthing, small power, LV STC panels and connection day management
- LV distribution — LV cable jointing from the substation to the charging positions, including MSDB installation and feeder pillar connections
- Testing and commissioning — sheath testing, pre-energisation inspection and support through to energisation
- SAP attendance — switching, isolation, permit issuance and connection day supervision
Motorway Service Area & Fleet Depot Charging
Motorway service areas are one of the fastest-growing segments of the EV charging market — National Highways and the major MSA operators are rolling out high-power charging across the Strategic Road Network, requiring new 11kV substation infrastructure at each site. Fleet depots — logistics, bus and commercial vehicle operators — are electrifying at pace, with large depot charging installations requiring substantial new HV infrastructure.
We work with the ICPs, electrical contractors and principal contractors delivering these programmes, providing the HV jointing, substation installation and LV works that underpin the charging infrastructure.
Residential EV Charging — ICP Connections
New residential developments are increasingly required to include EV charging provisions for all parking spaces. For larger developments, this creates significant LV load — and in some cases requires a new 11kV substation specifically sized to serve the EV charging load alongside the standard residential supply. We support ICPs delivering contestable connections on residential developments where EV charging forms a significant part of the load design.
33kV for Large-Scale EV Infrastructure
The largest EV charging and fleet electrification projects — major logistics depots, large motorway service area clusters, bus depot electrification programmes — may require 33kV connections to the grid where the total load exceeds what is available at 11kV. We provide 33kV cable jointing and termination works for these larger schemes, supporting the full scope from the 33kV connection point through to the HV distribution within the site.
Also need cable fault location on your EV infrastructure? CableFaultLocation.co.uk provides HV and LV fault finding, cable route tracing and identification — useful during construction and for reactive fault response once the infrastructure is live.
Working With ICPs and Charge Point Operators
EV charging infrastructure projects typically involve a charge point operator (CPO), an ICP for the contestable HV connection, an electrical contractor for the LV works and a principal contractor or local authority managing the street or site works. We operate within this supply chain as the specialist HV jointing and substation contractor — working to the ICP's connection design, the CPO's infrastructure specification and the principal contractor's programme.
If you are an ICP, CPO, electrical contractor or local authority with an EV charging programme requiring HV jointing or LV cable works, contact us with the project details and we will confirm availability and scope.