Electric vehicle drivers able to fully charge for less than a £1

BeEV is offering drivers the chance to fully charge their electric vehicle (EV) for less than £1 on Saturday (June 21).

Drivers will be charged 1p/kWh at BeEV’s new charging hub in Failsworth, Manchester, to celebrate its opening.

The site, located on the corner of Reliance Street and Oldham Road, is one of the first projects of its kind to repurpose a former petrol station into a modern EV charging hub in the UK. 

The land was a derelict petrol station for more than 15 years but is now home to an ultra-rapid charging hub, with twelve 300kW ultra-rapid charging bays.

This includes two extra-long bays, an accessible bay and four waiting bays where drivers can park while waiting for a charger. 

The site is home to a new Caffè Nero Express and visitors to the launch event on Saturday (June 21) will get a free coffee or hot drink, as well as a free ice cream.

Failsworth forms part of the ‘Northern Gateway’, one of the six key growth zones outlined in Greater Manchester’s 10-year industrial strategy, and the Manchester Charging Oasis is the latest step in the area’s extensive transformation. 

BeEV has invested £4m to develop the site and has only used local suppliers in its construction.

The site features a top layer of tarmac made from recycled tyres, as well as solar panels and recycled bricks as part of the Caffè Nero Express.

Recycled water from drainage is also being used in the store’s and the wildflower garden and trees on site will also generate a net biodiversity gain of 21.2%. 

Asif Ghafoor, CEO of BeEV, said: “This flagship site has been a long time in the making, and we’re thrilled that it’s open to the public. It’s taken a lot of hard work to get to this point and is a proud day for everyone in the business. 

“It’s been designed to give drivers exactly what they want - not only amenities to give them a break from driving, but also trees, wildflowers and nature that makes drivers excited to come here and charge. 

“We can’t wait to see members of the local community and EV drivers at our event on Saturday, which is why we’re giving them the cheapest EV charging anywhere in the country to celebrate.” After Saturday, the site will be 50p/kWh going forward, making it one of the cheapest ultra-rapid charging sites in Manchester.