Chargemaster Milton Keynes EV experience
- Chargemaster to manage UK’s first EV experience centre
- High profile shopping centre store launching in Milton Keynes
- Part of the city’s £9 million Go Ultra Low Cities programme
- Due to launch spring 2017 in the city shopping centre
- Chargemaster already operates 170 standard public chargers and 56 rapid chargers for council
- 52 electric cars available this year for Milton Keynes residents to try before they buy, rising to 99 in the next five years
CHARGEMASTER EV Experience Centre shows the way with the UK’s first shopping centre multi-brand electric vehicle showroom opening in Milton Keynes.
The major provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure has won the contract to set up and operate the EV Experience Centre after Milton Keynes was awarded £9 million Go Ultra Low Cities funding in January 2016 to encourage the uptake of low emission vehicles and hit the target of 23% of all car sales being electric or plug-in by 2021.
The Chargemaster EV Experience project is due to launch this spring and will be in the city’s premier shopping centre.
The ground-breaking new project will help residents understand the true potential of EV ownership. As well as showcasing the latest EVs and exciting technology, highly trained independent professionals will be on hand to answer visitors’ questions and refer them to relevant local dealerships or partner leasing companies.
As an added bonus, Milton Keynes residents and businesses will also be able to test drive a range of vehicles on a short- or long-term basis.
Other initiatives in the Go Ultra Low Cities programme include a £2.3 million investment into additional Milton Keynes charging infrastructure.
This will see Chargemaster supply its latest charging infrastructure to set up two filling-station-style EV rapid charging hubs and 50 destination chargers across the town. The introduction of free parking for ultra-low emission vehicles, as well trialling the latest developments in technology such as inductive charging, among other innovative projects to boost EV uptake.
Brian Matthews, head of transport Innovation at Milton Keynes, said: “Our commitment to making Milton Keynes a go-to destination and flagship Go Ultra Low city starts with our residents.
“We’re delighted to be working with Chargemaster on this project, and are confident that the team is best placed to champion the EV sector, considering their knowledge and experience of the industry.”
David Martell, Chargemaster CEO, said: “Being part of such a high-profile and diverse project is very exciting for Chargemaster. The centre will be the first of its kind and we are sure it will pave the way for other cities to follow. We are looking forward to welcoming Milton Keynes shoppers and showing them everything that going green has to offer.”
