UK’s first Electric Forecourt will open summer 2020

The first of a nationwide network of over 100 Electric Forecourts® is now under construction by GRIDSERVE and will open this summer, offering ultra-fast, low-cost charging.
 
The Electric Forecourt® near Braintree, Essex, will be able to 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, and much faster in the future as battery technologies mature.

The network of Electric Forecourts® will be powered by zero carbon solar energy and battery storage projects, also constructed by GRIDSERVE®, ensuring carbon emission targets can be met, whilst also keeping prices low.

Whilst vehicles charge, drivers will be able to relax or shop in a state of the art two storey building, which will house a range of facilities including a coffee shop, convenience supermarket, and airport-style lounge with high-speed internet and meeting rooms.

The facility will also function as an education centre for electric vehicles and sustainable energy, which will 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, former Conservative Party Chairman and MP for Braintree, 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 £1bn programme, GRIDSERVE is developing more than 100 Electric Forecourt® sites on busy routes and near powerful grid connections close to towns, cities and major transport hubs.

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 this year.
 
Construction on the first Electric Forecourt® on a 2.5 acre site adjacent to Great Notley, just off the A131, is supported by a £4.86 million grant from Innovate UK, one of the largest awarded last year. The site has links to Stansted Airport, Chelmsford, Colchester and the M11.
 
 GRIDSERVE is also developing several large solar farms, supported by batteries, to supply energy to its Electric Forecourts® to ensure that 100% of the electricity is clean and low cost. The company recently completed the UK’s most advanced solar farm, a 34.7MWp project at York with bifacial panels, sun trackers, and a 30MWh battery (https://youtu.be/jtkNKJBpVAg), and is completing a 25.7MWp project at Hull using similar technologies. It plans to develop Electric Forecourts® at both sites powered by the solar produced on site.