MFG agrees first ‘off-network’ electric charging partnership in push to promote ‘EV Power’ brand

Motor Fuel Group has agreed its first ’off-network’ electric vehicle charging partnership deal with real estate owner and manager, LondonMetric Property Plc, as it begins to grow its ’EV Power’ brand beyond its existing estate.

The initial programme with LondonMetric will see the UK’s biggest independent forecourt operator build six-to-eight-bay Ultra-Rapid 150kW EV charging hubs at six of LondonMetric’s retail locations in Birmingham, Cardiff, Coventry, Glasgow, Ipswich and Liskeard.

The partnership is aimed at helping MFG gain increased awareness of its EV Power brand, while LondonMetric will benefit from a zero-capex solution, additional rental income, new on-site facilities and at the same time, demonstrate its growing support for a cleaner, greener environment. The hubs will offer motorists 100 miles range in approximately 10 minutes, subject to the charging capability of individual car batteries.

Since 2018 MFG has been installing EV chargers across its network of 900+ forecourts. In 2020 it introduced its own EV Power brand bringing dedicated Ultra-Rapid 150kW chargers to its stations. By the end of this year it aims to have 100 EV charging hubs in operation or under construction, as part of a £400 million investment programme which should see around 3,000 Ultra-Rapid chargers at over 500 of its forecourts by 2030.

MFG is also looking to actively grow its EV Power network beyond its existing estate, incorporating Ultra-Rapid EV charging hubs onto retail parks, roadside developments and other locations convenient for motorists.

William Bannister, MFG’s chief executive officer, said: “We have already invested significantly and ahead of the curve on EV charging across our own forecourt network. Our intention is to continue to grow and develop a market-leading dual fuel strategy on our forecourts and, at the same time, work with leading real estate owners like LondonMetric to meet the inevitable demand for easy access EV charging from the motorist.”

LondonMetric’s property chief executive, Andrew Jones, added: “In line with our increasing focus on supporting the transition to a low-carbon economy and reacting to the structural changes impacting real estate, this partnership with MFG will provide customers at our sites access to a market-leading product; futureproofing them while also driving rental growth. Reflecting the attractive locations of our long income assets, we hope to build on this first phase and progress further installations with MFG across this part of our portfolio.”