Marks & Spencer (M&S) Food, WHSmith, and Costa Coffee are the three big retail names on site at electric charging network provider Gridserve’s latest electric forecourt.
The Norwich facility is the second Gridserve electric forecourt to open in the UK, following the launch of one in Braintree, Essex, in 2020 – the first of what is expected to be 100-plus sites across the country.
Gridserve described the new site as an electric vehicle (EV) “experience destination”, and this positioning is part of its strategy to encourage more drivers to switch to electric-powered vehicles in the coming years for the good of the environment. It said there are opportunities at the Norwich site, as there are in Braintree, for people to simply learn about EVs, chat with experts in the field and enjoy the accompanying retail and hospitality.
The new site has been labelled a “compact electric forecourt”, hosting 36 EV chargers, including 22 chargers with up to 350kW of power – which Gridserve calls the fastest chargers commercially available today. They are capable of adding up to 100 miles of range in only five minutes, according to the network provider.
In the coming weeks, visitors to Norwich Gridserve will be able to test drive the latest in electric cars from the biggest brands, via a leasing service.
Toddington Harper, CEO of Gridserve, said: “This decade is crucial for climate action and it’s vital that we deliver the solutions that will move the needle on climate change.
“The widespread transition to electric vehicles, powered by sustainable energy, is a key part of what’s needed. Giving drivers the confidence to switch to an electric vehicle and enabling a widespread transition away from fossil fuel vehicles is a central aim of our electric forecourts.”
He said this is the reason why Gridserve has, in his words, “put the consumer at the heart of our design, with our electric forecourts serving the needs of local communities in their transition to electric vehicles”.
The new forecourt is located at Broadland Gate Business Park in Postwick, adjacent to the A47.
[Image credit: Gridserve]
1 thought on “‘EV experience destination’: M&S Food, WHSmith, Costa at new Gridserve electric forecourt”
I visit Norwich costa in gridserve 2x week , always quiet and 1 particularly rude waitress ( Alana) this lady has been rude to me now on 2 occasions, the first time I w questioning was told she having bad. Please pass on, I will not like to visit now as she make
Me feel uncomfortable. Such a shame