Essex first stop for EV filling stations

The first of a network of electric vehicle charging ‘forecourts’ is under construction near Braintree in Essex.

Gridserve, the company behind the plan, plans to deliver more than 100 such facilities across the country. 

The Electric Forecourt® near Braintree is supported by a £4.8m grant from Innovate UK and will allow up to 24 electric vehicles to charge simultaneously at speeds of up to 350kW,  amongst the fastest commercially available in the UK. 

The facility will include a retail forecourt, housing a coffee shop, supermarket, and airport-style lounge with high-speed internet and meeting rooms. 

Gridserve said it was in discussions with a number of local authorities around the UK and had secured 100+ sites on busy routes and near powerful grid connections close to towns, cities and major transport hubs. 

The company aims to have the full UK-wide network operational within five years.