- Planning permission has been granted for a Gridserve Electric Forecourt to be built on Outland Road, just north of Plymouth’s Home Park Stadium.
- Plymouth’s first dedicated electric vehicle charging station will help support the City Council’s Climate Emergency Action Plan, including its ambition for the region to be net zero by 2030.
- The Plymouth Electric Forecourt will be supplied by 100% renewable, net zero carbon power, courtesy of Gridserve’s ‘Sun-to-Wheel’ energy ecosystem.
- Development includes 32 charging bays with industry-leading up to 350kW charging capability: enough for the latest EVs to add 100 miles of range in less than 10 minutes.
- State-of-the-art facility will also include retail amenities including a coffee shop and EV leasing area, office pods and a premium lounge for drivers to relax while they charge
Plymouth is to become home to a state-of-the-art Gridserve Electric Forecourt that aims to make charging an electric vehicle (EV) more ’convenient, more enjoyable and much more affordable than using a traditional petrol forecourt’.
Plans for the Plymouth Electric Forecourt on the A386/Outland Road have now been approved by Plymouth City Council following a detailed consultation. This landmark facility will feature 32 EV charging bays providing a maximum 350kW capacity, allowing the latest electric models to add 100 miles of range in less than 10 minutes. This allocation more than doubles the number of public chargers currently available in the region which, according to Zap-Map, only provide a maximum 50kW charging capacity.
The Plymouth Electric Forecourt, described by Gridserve as a compact design, will also feature a retail space suspended above high-power chargers. Here, visitors will benefit from an on-site coffee shop, convenience retail including WHSmith and meeting rooms. Drivers can also enjoy an airport-style lounge with high-speed internet while they wait for their vehicles to charge. In keeping with Gridserve’s sustainable values, the site will be powered entirely by net-zero carbon energy.
Toddington Harper, CEO of Gridserve, said:
“As EV registrations continue to skyrocket, it’s crucial that drivers are supported with reliable, convenient and affordable public charging infrastructure. Our state-of-the-art Electric Forecourt in Plymouth will support Plymouth City Council in tackling air pollution, slashing carbon emissions and supporting local residents in making the switch to low-carbon transport. By ensuring that all of the energy provided to the Electric Forecourt is 100% renewable, we’re not just building something new, but something better.”
Gridserve claims that the Plymouth Electric Forecourt will not only be able to offer the most reliable and fastest charging experience on offer anywhere in the UK, but thanks to the company’s commitment to renewable energy, it will also be one of the most sustainable. Pricing is yet to be confirmed, but Gridserve estimates that even the most efficient petrol and diesel cars are likely to cost at least three times more to refuel than an electric vehicle using sustainable energy from the Plymouth Electric Forecourt.
Gridserve refers to research institution RAND Europe, which reveals that Plymouth has one of the lowest EV adoption ratest in the UK with just 283 EVs registered in the region last year. Plymouth City Council declared a climate emergency in 2019, attributing 30% of the city’s total emissions to the transport sector. For the city, EVs and EV charge points will play a critical part in transport decarbonisation and helping the city achieve its net zero ambitions.
Gridserve plans to deliver more than 100 Electric Forecourts across the UK. It is also developing several large solar farms, supported by batteries, that will supply zero-carbon or net-zero carbon energy via the grid, ensuring that 100% of the energy provided to the Gridserve Electric Highway is renewable, dependable and low cost.
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