Birmingham Airport and Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport have become the first two British airports to join the Electric Highway and offer fast charging for electric motorists.
Both airports now host electric pumps for the growing numbers of e-motorists that may be picking up, dropping off, or flying in and out of the country.
Green energy company Ecotricity powers their Electric Highway with 100% renewable energy from the wind and the sun, allowing 35 different models of electric and plug-in hybrid cars to recharge in between 20 and 30mins.
Such is the rate of growth in electric cars, that the motoring industry is on track to sell more electric vehicles in the first six months of 2015 then in the previous four years combined.
The Electric Highway is a central part of this success story – for the first time powering one million miles in a month during May and scheduled to reach two million miles a month by the end of the year.
The Electric Highway has:
- installed nearly 250 electricity pumps at over 150 locations
- covered 95% of Britain’s motorway service stations
- enabled electric car drivers to travel the length and breadth of the country and refuel in 20 to 30 minutes
- expanded into the first British airports
- powered more than 7 million miles of free travel since inception
- attracted almost 20,000 members and growing at 1,300 new members each month
Dale Vince, founder of Ecotricity, said: “With our electricity pumps at 95% of the motorway network, we’re well on our way to making electric cars a practical, everyday choice for drivers in Britain.
“Installing pumps at airports such as Liverpool and Birmingham is the next phase of our national network which enables electric cars to drive the length and breadth of Britain. Now e-drivers can charge up at the airport if they’re picking up, dropping off, or on their way in and out of the country.”
Andrew Dutton, Liverpool John Lennon Airport’s Head of Environment, said: “Liverpool John Lennon Airport is proud to play a small part in the electric car revolution. The journey to the airport can be one of the major contributors to CO2 emissions associated with our business.
“By installing this charging point we are now giving those customers with electric or hybrid cars the opportunity to use these vehicles on a potential lengthy journey to the airport, relaxed in the knowledge that we have a charging point for them to use for their return journey home. Just as important though, this will also help to reduce CO2 emissions.”
Jo Lloyd, commercial director at Birmingham Airport, added: “We’re always looking at new and innovative ways of improving the passenger experience at Birmingham Airport, which is why we have installed these electric charging points.
“The growing popularity of electric and hybrid cars means it is vital we provide the facilities that will enable our passengers to travel to-and-from the airport as easily as possible. We’re extremely proud to support this green form of energy and the obvious benefits it brings to the environment.”
