New Milton Advertiser 11th Dec 2020

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Motoring

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■ By Glynn Williams MBE, Motoring Correspondent ELECTRIC vehicles have entered a new era with their first dedicated fill- ing station arriving in the launch of the UK’s first Electric Forecourt at Braintree in Essex. and it’s actually less expensive to use an electric car than a petrol or diesel alternative.” The Braintree Electric Forecourt, just off the A131, enables 36 elec- tric vehicles to be charged simulta- neously, with high power chargers that can deliver up to 350 kW of charging power, enabling people to add 200 miles of range in 20 minutes, and much faster in the future as electric vehicle battery technologies mature. Transport minister Rachel

Electric fuelling infrastructure on a charge with first dedicated station

of the on-site building showcases the latest electric vehicles, and there are multiple digitals screens that help people learn about and source electric vehicles. In partnership with Hitachi Capital, Gridserve has also launched Gridserve Electric Vehicle Solutions, the UK’s first net zero electric vehicle leasing business, designed to bring the cost of driving electric well below that of petrol or diesel cars and minimise the environmental impact of EVs. Net zero carbon energy is included in monthly leasing pay- ments other than for Tesla models, meaning drivers can charge at Electric Forecourts without paying any additional costs. This removes a key barrier to mass EV adoption, enabling people to accurately compare the cost of leasing a petrol or diesel vehicle, plus fuel, with an electric vehicle with fuel included. In this way it reflects the true overall cost to the consumer, which in most cases clearly demonstrates a lower cost for EVs than petrol or diesel vehicles. The benefit is amplified for the 40% of UK drivers without access to off-street parking [ who would otherwise have to rely on less dependable and typically more expensive public charging infra- structure compared to charging at home. For those who lease through Gridserve, charging at an Electric Forecourt becomes cheaper than home charging because energy is already included in monthly leas- ing payments. Robert Gordon, CEO of Hitachi Capital (UK) PLC, said: “Our part- nership with Gridserve is a total game-changer for electric mobility. “Not only are we providing elec- tric vehicles at some of the most competitive rates on the market, but we are at the same time devel- oping a network of rapid, reliable and renewably powered Electric Forecourts that will fast-track the electric vehicle revolution in the UK as we prepare for a zero-car- bon future.” The partnership plans to offer electric vehicles from all major vehicle manufacturers starting with Audi, BMW, DS, Mercedes- Benz, MG, Mini, Nissan, Renault, and Volkswagen. ■

Up until now – other than at Tesla’s fast expanding super- charger network for its own models – EV (electric vehicle) driv- ers have had to seek out charg- ers tucked away at the side of a traditional petrol station or the growing numbers of standalone chargers in car parks or at modern supermarkets. The new electric charging sta- tion, the first Electric Forecourt, has been opened by Gridserve, Innovate UK and OZEV, near Braintree, Essex, representing a major breakthrough for massive expansion of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in the UK. The site is the first of over 100 Electric Forecourts being built by Gridserve over the next five years, providing people with the confi- dence that the UK will have the charging infrastructure required for mass EV adoption well ahead of the 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars. The company’s £1bn UK-wide programme aims to make EV driv- ing an enjoyable, ultra-convenient and stress-free experience, which is delivering net zero EV driving at a cost that’s lower than driving petrol or diesel vehicles. And it is part of a package, com- bining providing the fuel and the vehicle in an electric vehicle leas- ing business launched simultane- ously in partnership with Hitachi Capital (UK) Plc. Gridserve founder and CEO Toddington Harper said: “It’s our collective responsibility to prevent greenhouse gas emissions rising further, and electric vehicles pow- ered by clean energy represent a large part of the solution. “However, charging has to be simple and free of anxiety, which is why we’ve designed our Electric Forecourts entirely around the needs of drivers, updating the tra- ditional petrol station model for a net-zero carbon world and deliver- ing the confidence people need to make the switch to electric trans- port today – a full decade ahead of the 2030 ban on selling new petrol and diesel cars. “Together with our charging-in- cluded electric vehicle leasing busi- ness, that we are also launching today in partnership with Hitachi Capital (UK) PLC, people now have the full confidence to make the transition to an electric vehicle, knowing that charging is in-hand,

Macleanm said: “With £2.8bn of support to encourage the uptake of zero emission vehicles, there has never been a better time to make the switch.” The Electric Forecourt is part of Gridserve’s wider ‘sun-to-wheel’ infrastructure, built to deliver low cost, net zero carbon energy to every vehicle that uses one of its chargers. Electricity is generated from both the solar power canopies above the chargers, and a network of hybrid solar farms, also oper- ated by Gridserve. There is also a 6 mWh battery on site which helps to balance the local energy grid and shift energy to periods when it is more valuable. For example, on windy winter nights the battery can store enough energy to drive 24,000 miles in electric vehicles the fol- lowing day, helping to maximise the value of renewable energy resources, stabilise the grid, and keep prices low. Drivers charging at the Electric Forecourt will initially pay just 24p per kWh of energy (inc VAT), which is currently the lowest ultra- high power charging rates on the market today – meaning a typical charge from 20% to 80% capac- ity costs under £10 for an aver- age-size electric vehicle on the market today. While vehicles charge, drivers can relax or shop in state-of-the- art facilities that cater for all their needs with a comprehensive retail space, operated by WHSmith. The facility also includes a wait- ing lounge, free superfast WiFi, high-end washrooms, dedicated kids’ area, wellbeing area with exercise bikes that generate elec- tricity, and business meeting room pods. WHSmith managing director Toby Keir said: “We have been serving customers on their jour- neys for over 200 years and we understand how important con- venience is to people on the go.” The Electric Forecourt is also designed to help people make the process of switching to electric vehicles as simple and straightfor- ward as possible. The upper floor

Chargers plug gaps as petrol pumps decline

ACCORDING to the Zap-Map database, this month there are 13,058 locations with an electric vehicle public charging point, with 20,658 devices offering

35,952 charger connections. 663 new devices have been added to over the last 30 days bringing 1,082 new connectors. In comparison the United

Kingdom is home to 8,385 petrol stations operational or under development, down by over 35% since 2000. ■

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Model Shown: HR-V SE 1.5 i-VTEC Turbo Manual Crystal Black Pearl at £24,200 On The Road (OTR). Terms and Conditions : New retail HR-V orders from 01 October 2020 to 30 November 2020 and registered by 30 November 2020. Subject to model and colour availability. Offers applicable at participating dealers (excluding Channel Islands) and are at the promoter’s absolute discretion. Not to be used along with any other offers currently available. *Honda SUV Saving: Up to £1,000 Honda SUV Saving is applicable across the new retail Honda SUV range £1,000 on all HR-V and CR-V models. Customer saving (Honda SUV Saving) of up to £1,000 incl. VAT will be applied to the retail invoice price. **5 years complimentary service package: This is applicable to all new retail HR-V models ordered from 01 October 2020 to 30 November 2020 and registered by 30 November 2020. Fuel economy figures (Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP)) for the Honda HR-V SE 1.5 i-VTEC mpg (l/100km): Low 34mpg (8.3L/100km), Medium 44.8mpg (6.3L/100km), High 48.7mpg (5.8L/100km), Extra High 40.4mpg (7.0L/100km), Combined 42.2mpg (6.7L/100km). Combined CO 2 emissions: 132g/km. The fuel consumption you achieve under real life driving conditions and CO 2 produced will depend upon a number of factors including the accessories fitted after registration, variations in driving styles, weather conditions and vehicle load. Figures stated are based on a standardised test cycle and may not reflect real world driving, therefore they should be used for comparison purposes only. Customers should only compare vehicles tested to the same technical procedures.