Gridserve’s electric forecourt at Braintree would be the first in the UK. Credit: Gridserve.

Power infrastructure company Gridserve has submitted planning application to build the first electric forecourt in the UK to charge electric vehicles (EV).

The forecourt will be in Braintree, Essex and will be the first of over 100 sites planned across the UK as part of a £1bn infrastructure programme. The Braintree forecourt will have 24 ultra-fast charging bays with 350kW chargers offer charging times of less than 30 minutes, with the option of having more powerful 500kW and MW charge points for buses and trucks.

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Gridserve said that the pricing of the forecourt would be competitive compared to the cost of charging at home. The company will also invest in grid infrastructure and solar farms near to its forecourts in an effort to deliver low-cost energy that “materially improves the business case for EVs.”

The Gridserve programme is one of 11 projects in a £5bn portfolio of UK energy infrastructure projects that the Department of International Trade is promoting to global investors.

Gridserve plans to submit planning applications for additional electric forecourts in York and Hull, where Gridserve is currently building solar farms.

Reaction

Gridserve CEO Toddington Harper said: “By developing this state-of-the-art electric forecourt in Braintree, we’ll be supporting Braintree District Council and the UK to tackle air pollution, encourage low-carbon transport, and meet climate targets, while also offering a solution that’s future proofed to support the mass uptake of electric vehicles.

“Braintree is in the unique position of being the first of over 100 sites across the UK to host a Gridserve Electric Forecourt. Every site will be powered by batteries and supplied by solar energy. With convenient, dependable, ultra-fast charging, we’re making charging an EV as easy as using petrol stations.”

The company tweeted: “Gridserve unveils plans to build a UK-wide network of more than 100 Electric Forecourts. This infrastructure will accelerate the EV revolution, serve the grid, and help the UK meet climate and clean air targets.”

Braintree District council also tweeted: “More great news for Braintree! Gridserve has announced its plans to create the UK’s FIRST solar-powered electric charging station next to the Horizon 120 Business and Innovation Park planned in Great Notley!”