National Grid named EV charging partner of Commonwealth Games

National Grid has been appointed as the Official Electric Vehicle Charging Provider for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will see around 4,500 athletes from 72 nations and territories compete in 19 sports across 15 competition venues from 28 July until 8 August 2022.

National Grid will be loaning 125 electric vehicle chargers, which are each able to charge two cars, to provide 250 private charging bays for Birmingham 2022, supporting the ambition of making the event the most sustainable Commonwealth Games yet.

The chargers will help support delivery of the event through bays set to be used by Games vehicles transporting VIPs, Games officials and key guests from across the Commonwealth to all venues in the West Midlands.

Following Birmingham 2022, all electric vehicle chargers will be redeployed to various National Grid operational sites across the country.

Lorna McAtear, National Grid Fleet Manager, said: “We’re very proud to be supporting the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. At National Grid, our role in helping to decarbonise the electricity system in Great Britain and accelerate progress towards net zero makes this a natural alliance and a great opportunity to demonstrate the role electric vehicles will play in achieving a cleaner energy future.”

Michael Rawlings, Director of Transport for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, said: “We’re delighted to be welcoming National Grid Electricity Transmission as the Official Electric Vehicle Charging Provider for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Our ambition is clear: we will deliver the most sustainable Commonwealth Games yet, creating a carbon neutral legacy. We hope that the electric vehicle chargers from National Grid will play a key role in this.

“Other emission reduction initiatives include encouraging lower-emission modes of transport by including public transport within spectator tickets, taking a ‘mains first’ approach to energy provision and where temporary power is required, integrating battery storage and the use of hydrogenated vegetable oil.”

Darren Hall, Chief Operating Officer of the Commonwealth Games Federation, said: “It is great to be partnering with National Grid as they become the Official Electric Vehicle Charging Provider for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. With the start of the Games quickly approaching, having the world’s leading electricity and gas utility company on board highlights the importance of a sustainable Birmingham 2022 that leads the way for all future editions of the Commonwealth Games.”