Login
My Garage
New hero

UK’s first electric vehicle forecourt opens in Essex

By Stephen Turvil | March 2, 2021

Share

Why not leave a comment?

See all | Add a comment

The UK’s first electric car forecourt has been revealed and we've taken a look at all of the details

UK’s first electric vehicle forecourt opens in Essex

It has arrived! The Gridserve Electric Forecourt in Braintree, Essex, is the world’s first electric forecourt and charging your car is ‘fast, easy, and cheap’, its operator suggests. So, what does this facility have to offer? There is room for 36 vehicles to charge simultaneously, several types of charger, and a futuristic vibe. It feels a generational leap on from a standard fuel station. 

What to expect

On approach, you see a large, futuristic, canopy that keeps the weather off your car. There is a gap in its centre so light can flood the forecourt. Beneath the canopy, there are 4 lanes for vehicles. The lanes have parking spaces marked by green/yellow lines. There is also an electric charger close to each parking bay.

Furthermore, there are overhead signs that direct you to the charger that suits your car. There are 12 DC chargers (up to 350kW), 12 DC chargers (up to 90kW), and 6 AC chargers (up to 22kW). There are also 6 Tesla superchargers (not under the canopy).

The cost to charge your vehicle is 24 pence per kWh (including VAT). This is the ‘lowest ultra-high power charging rate on the market’, Gridserve said. As such, the operator added, the battery in an ‘average size’ car can charge from 0% to 80% for less than £10. However, there is likely to be ‘tiered pricing’ at some point.

The Gridserve Electric Forecourt also has a hospitality building where you might eat, drink, shop, and relax. Further features include the kid’s area, business meeting room pods, and exercise bikes that generate electricity. Naturally, wi-fi is available too. 

UK’s first electric vehicle forecourt opens in Essex Image

Renewable energy

The electricity that charges your car can be sourced from solar energy to minimise the company’s impact on the environment. The canopy is entirely covered with solar panels, for starters. Additional power comes from ‘hybrid solar farms’, Gridserve revealed. It refers to this infrastructure as ‘sun-to-wheel’ and it can ‘deliver net zero-carbon energy to every car it charges’. Also:

  • Gridserve plans to build more than 100 electric vehicle forecourts in the United Kingdom (over the next 5 years)
  • the on-site building also ‘showcases’ electric cars and you can learn more about them via digital screens
  • there are additional solar panels around much of the site’s perimeter
  • you can wait for your vehicle to charge on a small, grassy area that has picnic tables
  • the forecourt is on the A131 (just outside Braintree, Essex).

Related Articles

Polestar 7 electric SUV coming in 2028 – Here’s what you need to know
Polestar confirms its new electric SUV, the Polestar 7, for 2028. It’s set to rival the Tesla Model Y and be built in Europe for the first...
Jul 04, 2025
Inside the parking fine scandal – Faulty machines, £100 fines, and no way to fight back
Private parking firms issued 14.4M fines last year. Here’s how the DVLA is making millions selling driver data.
Jul 04, 2025
Tesla’s sales slump continues – Is a budget model the answer?
Tesla's sales are falling for the second year in a row. Could a cheaper EV be the comeback they need?
Jul 04, 2025
North Yorkshire’s first permanent speed camera knocked down just hours before going live
North Yorkshire Police have launched an investigation and confirmed they believe the damage was intentional
Jul 02, 2025