Tesla submits plans for 16 supercharger hub with solar canopy near Somerset A303
By Eve
Tesla has applied to Somerset Council for a charging facility at the Wincanton Gateway site off the A303, featuring 16 supercharger units under a solar canopy, a substation and a battery energy storage unit. The site, adjacent to a McDonald's on the A371 Lawrence Hill, will use stored solar energy to reduce grid pressure, with a decision expected before Christmas. Planning Potential confirmed the network is open to all EVs, not Tesla vehicles exclusively.
Why it matters: The 16 bay hub with onsite solar and battery storage offers a model for grid friendly rapid charging infrastructure on strategic trunk roads. Somerset Council's pre Christmas decision timeline gives CPOs and contractors a near term signal for similar roadside developments.