Bristol Airport has announced the installation of a 10-bay electric vehicle (EV) charging zone, located in its new multi-storey car park.

The installations are the first in a programme of upgrades across the airport and are a key part of its pledge to be carbon neutral by 2025, and net-zero by 2050. As part of the carbon neutral plans, Bristol Airport will also convert its own fleet to zero emissions.

The EV chargepoints are supported by a smart reporting system which allows the airport to monitor “a number of metrics, including carbon dioxide savings, the amount of energy delivered and the number of charge cycles per day”. 

Paul Baker, Surface Access Strategy Manager, Bristol Airport, said: “We are delighted phase one of the project has been so successful and improves the facilities available to passengers.  Pod Point chargepoints are simple and easy to use. Prior to arrival at Bristol Airport passengers will need to download a free Pod Point app and set up an account. This is our first step to Bristol Airport being EV driver friendly and we are already looking at other locations around the Airport to extend the number of Pod Points on site.”

Pod Point is providing the airport with a fully managed service from site surveys through to installation and aftercare. The chargepoints have been added to Pod Point’s public network and app.

According to the Opportunities in Electric Vehicle Charging and Commercial and Industrial Sites report by Aurora Energy Research, up to three million commercial and industrial (C&I) charge points may be needed in Great Britain by 2040 to supplement the mass roll-out of EVs.

The report examines four main applications of C&I: fleet vans, workplace charging, public car parks and motorway service stations, and examines the opportunities and the requirements to unlock investment.

Fleets and drivers using electric vehicles can use the Fleet News Electric Vehicle Charging Point finder.