Gridserve partners with high street retailers as first ‘Electric Forecourt’ nears completion

Gridserve has agreed partnerships with a series of high street retailers including WHSmith, Costa Coffee and the Post Office as part of its efforts to create a £1 billion network of 100 electric vehicle charging stations over the next five years.

The announcement comes as the first of the hubs being built near Braintree in Essex draws close to completion. Gridserve said it has also agreed partnerships with Tesla and ABB to provide charging infrastructure and with the AA to provide its services.

The company’s founder and chief executive Toddington Harper said: “Our UK-wide network of over 100 customer-focused Electric Forecourts will eliminate range and charging anxiety by making it easier and cheaper to charge an electric vehicle than to fuel a petrol or diesel alternative.

“The UK’s first electric forecourt, represents so much more than an electric equivalent of a modern petrol station – it will deliver a fully loaded customer experience, offering the best of British retail and customer service to cater for a full range of consumer and driver needs.”

AA president Edmund King said: “We are thrilled to be partnering with Gridserve to provide instant support for EV drivers as they charge – just one of the ways we’re transforming our customer service to help accelerate the shift to electric vehicles.”

In April, Hitachi Capital agreed to loan “tens of millions” of pounds to Gridserve to help deliver upon its vision. Robert Gordon, chief executive of Hitachi Capital UK, commented: “Our partnership with Gridserve is revolutionising energy and transport, accelerating us towards a zero emissions future.

“Flagship projects like the Braintree Electric Forecourt are the essential infrastructure needed to fast-track the electric vehicle revolution in the UK and prepare for a zero-carbon future.”