Electric Vehicle Experience Centre to open in Milton Keynes

The UK’s first multi-brand electric vehicle (EV) showroom opens its doors to the public on 22 July at the Centre:mk shopping centre in Milton Keynes. Managed by Chargemaster and funded by Milton Keynes’ Go Ultra Low City scheme, the Electric Vehicle Experience Centre (EVEC) has been established to increase the number of EVs sold in the area. 

Milton Keynes Council has set a target of 23% of all new cars registered locally to be electric by 2021. The council hopes that the 1,200m2 showroom will help inform the town’s residents and visitors about the benefits of electric vehicle ownership. 

The EVEC is one of a number of initiatives being launched by Milton Keynes Council under the Go Ultra Low City scheme to promote the uptake of electric vehicles. These include significant investment in infrastructure, including the creation of a number of EV charging ‘hubs’, free parking for EVs and further grants for workplace and home charging. 

Brian Matthews, head of transport innovation at Milton Keynes Council, said: “The EVEC is a centrepiece of our thrust to encourage the uptake of electric vehicles and is a good example of the innovation that Milton Keynes is using to lead the way in transport innovation. We are delighted to be working with Chargemaster and six founding car manufacturers to bring this about. 

“We are very proud to be one of the UK’s Go Ultra Low Cities, and we are putting the UK’s first EV Experience Centre at the very heart of our programme. We want to encourage and support as many drivers as possible to go electric, and the information, advice and test drives offered through the centre will help to show local consumers how easily an EV could fit into their lifestyle.”

The centre will be open seven days a week and be staffed by a team of ‘EV gurus’ who will provide information and advice. Visitors will be able to test-drive the latest electric cars. The 11 EV gurus will provide impartial advice on specific models, government grants available, different types of plug-in vehicle and charging options. The centre will cover every aspect of EV ownership. 

Road minister Jesse Norman said: “We awarded £9m to Milton Keynes to encourage the take-up of ultra-low emission vehicles and it is great to see the city leading the way. There are now more than 100,000 ultra-low emission vehicles on our roads, and it is our ambition that nearly every car and van in the UK is zero-emission by 2050. We want to retain our position as a global leader in the development, manufacture and use of ultra-low emission vehicles and have committed to invest more than £600m by 2020. Grants worth up to £4,500 are available off the price of new ultra-low emission cars, and I hope many more people will take up this offer.”

With support from six vehicle manufacturers as founding partners, the EV Experience Centre will initially showcase models from BMWi, Kia, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Renault and Volkswagen, with the option to test cars on local roads. In addition to expert advice on the different vehicle technologies, visitors will be able to find out about local charging infrastructure, including the creation of two EV charging ‘hubs’ in Milton Keynes, free EV parking and grants for home and workplace charging.

The AA Trust, also a founding partner of the centre, has launched its new Drive Electric lessons, which will initially be run from the EV Experience Centre. The lessons have been designed by Drive Tech and will be delivered by AA instructors, to help drivers better understand electric vehicles, and how to get the best out of them when driving.

David Martell, chief executive of Chargemaster, said: “The opening of the EV Experience Centre is a landmark moment for electric vehicles in the UK. The next five years will see the uptake of EVs ramp up, as a wider choice of models come to market, with improved range and greater desirability. The EV Experience Centre will provide a great opportunity for those interested in electric vehicles to find out more and test drive one, which we are confident will encourage even more consumers to buy electric cars.”