Pub chain Greene King to create EV network

Brewer Greene King will be installing electric vehicle (EV) chargepoints at its pubs in partnership with Drive Energi.

Drive Energi will build, own and operate a rapid charging network, with the first locations going live across the North West before the end of 2020. The initial deployment will focus on sites across the North West which are expected to be fully operational by 2021, with the wider roll-out taking place in phases across the UK over the next three years. The partnership will then run through to 2040.

The contactless payment enabled Tritium 50kW DC charge points will be powered by renewable energy and available to use via a pay-as-you-go tariff, 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year with no subscription required.

The charging points will be deployed nationwide across Greene King’s diverse property portfolio of 2,700 pubs, restaurants and hotels, which includes the Farmhouse Inns, Chef and Brewer and Hungry Horse brands.

Tony Hodgson, head of estates at Greene King said: “We’ve been working hard developing our sustainability plans as we continue to build a greener business. With more people buying electric cars in a bid to be more environmentally friendly, we want to support our customers who come to dine or stay with us by offering electric charging ports in our pubs that are able to do so.”

Drive Energi is a subsidiary of energy investment company Box Energi.

Drive Energi chief executive James Moat, said: “We are committed to the roll-out of accessible public charging across the UK and drivers can expect to charge from over 300 Drive Energi locations by the end of 2021.”