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

England’s most hated motorway revealed for 2025
England’s motorway satisfaction is dropping. Find out which roads rank lowest and what drivers are really saying.
Jul 11, 2025
Range Rover just got a bold new logo
Range Rover has a fresh new look. Here’s what’s changing, what’s staying, and why it matters as the brand goes electric.
Jul 10, 2025
The Rimac Nevera R just became the fastest electric car ever
Looking for the world’s fastest electric car? The Rimac Nevera R just hit 268 mph and crushed 24 records. Check out its jaw-dropping specs...
Jul 10, 2025
Emerging Electric Vehicle Brands: Essential Insights
If none of these names sounds familiar, well done: you’re precisely the kind of individual these brands are eager to attract
Jul 10, 2025