‘UK’s first electric petrol station’ under construction in Essex

GRIDSERVE, a sustainable energy company, has announced that the first of a nationwide network of over 100 Electric Forecourts is now under construction and will open in summer 2020, offering ultra-fast, low-cost charging.

The Electric Forecourt near Braintree, Essex, can charge 24 electric vehicles at once with superchargers that can deliver up to 350kW of charging power, enabling people to charge vehicles within 20-30 minutes initially. 

Whilst vehicles charge at the ‘electric petrol station‘, drivers will have access to a range of facilities including a coffee shop, convenience supermarket, and airport-style lounge with internet and meeting rooms. The facility will also function as an education centre for electric vehicles and sustainable energy, which aims to help people to understand, test drive, and secure vehicles that are most suitable for them, with the ultimate aim of providing the confidence, and support to transition to an all electric future.

James Cleverly, Minister of State, said: “Our government is committed to increasing the take-up of electric vehicles, to clean our air and enable us to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. GRIDSERVE’s Electric Forecourt, close to Braintree, is pioneering the world-class charging infrastructure that we need to support our policies and will inspire people in towns and cities throughout the country to have the confidence to make the move to sustainable transport.”

As part of its £1 billionn programme, GRIDSERVE has announced that it is developing more than 100 Electric Forecourt^® sites on busy routes and near powerful grid connections close to towns, cities and major transport hubs. Supporting the UK government’s commitment to ban the sale of new petrol, diesel and hybrid vehicles within 15-years, the company aims to have a UK-wide network operational within five years. GRIDSERVE is currently in discussions with a number of local authorities around the UK and expects to have several more sites in construction and many more into planning by the end of 2020.

Toddington Harper, CEO and founder of GRIDSERVE, said: “We’ve designed our Electric Forecourts^® entirely around the needs of electric vehicle drivers, updating the petrol station model for a net-zero carbon future. Many more people want to buy electric vehicles but are worried about how to charge them. We will help solve that challenge and deliver the confidence needed to make the switch to electric transport.

“This will be the most advanced charging facility in the UK, and possibly the world. Drivers will be able to turn up and charge their vehicle at the fastest rate each vehicle can support, using 100 per cent renenewable energy, and with the best possible charging experience.”