Two Russian firms—software developer 4xxi and charger manufacturer L-Charge—are collaborating to create an off-grid EV charging network in London that’s scheduled to be launched this year.

L-Charge’s “rapidly scalable off-grid ultra-fast chargers” use energy from locally-stored fossil fuels rather than the electrical grid. L-Charge has tested a mobile gas-powered charging station in Moscow, and plans to use this to offer on-demand charging in London. The mobile station is “a truck with a set of equipment installed onboard operating on the principle of the gas power plant.” Customers can call for a charge via a mobile app, and can book charging in advance at pre-scheduled times.

“Using hydrogen or an LNG/H₂ mixture instead of connecting to the power grid connection is the most efficient way to provide power on-site,” says L-Charge CEO Dmitry Lashin. “Low-carbon fuels are currently the most economically feasible solution, and can be used as a bridging technology towards a carbon-neutral solution such as hydrogen. Even using pure LNG to charge EVs we are already substantially reducing emissions.”

Source: L-Charge