GRIDSERVE opens new Electric Forecourt in Norwich

GRIDSERVE has opened its Compact Electric Forecourt in Norwich, a new electric vehicle charging hub with 36 high-powered chargepoints.

As part of GRIDSERVE’s £1 billion UK-wide investment into electric vehicle charging infrastructure, the new hub will feature 36 chargers, including 22 with up to 350kW of power, making it one of the most advanced charging stations in the world, according to GRIDSERVE.

The Norwich Electric Forecourt more than doubles the number of high-powered chargers in the region. Norwich and the wider East of England region currently have comparatively low EV charger coverage compared to other regions in the UK, hosting just 29 chargers per 100,000 people compared to the UK average of 42 per 100,000 people, or 102 per 100,000 people in London.

The result is that currently EVs only account for a small proportion of cars on the road in the Norwich area. In addition to this, Norwich received government funding to assess the viability of a zero-emission zone in the city in a bid to cut air pollution from the city centre. If the plan goes ahead, all petrol and diesel vehicles could be banned from the city, making emission free electric vehicles essential.

Since the company opened the world’s first Electric Forecourt in Braintree, Essex in 2020, the district has seen a significant uptake in EV registrations, growing by 82% – more than double the UK’s average rate of EV growth.

In the coming weeks, visitors to the Norwich site will also be able to test drive the latest in electric cars from the biggest brands, as well as making the most of known brands including Costa Coffee, M&S Food, and WHSmith.

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. That’s why we have 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.

“Norwich Electric Forecourt showcases a brand new design, where we have been able to provide both charging and a great customer experience in a smaller footprint than our first site at Braintree. By elevating the facilities above the chargers, we make the best use of the space available and are able to deliver a great EV experience without compromise, even when space is at a premium and sites are more constrained.”