UK EV Charging Stations Up and Running

March 11, 2014: A network of 14 electric vehicle (EV) rapid chargers, forming Milton Keynes CrossLink and supplied and operated by Chargemaster Plc, has been completed four weeks before the planned launch date. The rapid chargers are some of the first ‘tri-standard’ units in the UK and will allow EV drivers to charge their cars in approximately 20 minutes, enabling cross-country motoring through Cambridge, Bedford, Milton Keynes, Buckingham and Oxford.

CrossLink is a Milton Keynes Council initiative and the charging units are sited at strategic locations connecting Cambridge and Bedford in the East with Milton Keynes and Cheltenham, Oxford and Buckingham with Milton Keynes to the South West. The units, supplied by local company, Chargemaster Plc, will provide rapid charging to a whole range of the latest electric vehicles.

The ‘tri-standard’ charging points are designed to work with all the latest electric cars including the new BMW i3 and VW e-up!, the Nissan Leaf, Renault Zoe, Citroen C Zero, Peugeot Ion, Mitsubishi i-MiEV and the Tesla Model S, the first UK models of which arrive next month.

The network of charging points has been partly funded by the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) under a government scheme supporting the growth of ultra low emission vehicles and the respective charging network.

Transport Minister Baroness Kramer said: “These charge points are the first of their kind in England, able to rapidly recharge a wide range of plug-in vehicles. The government is committed to making the UK a leading market for ultra low emission vehicles and putting in place versatile and accessible infrastructure like this is an important part of making this happen.”

Milton Keynes CrossLink is one of the first from this round of OLEV funding to be completed, and is one of a number of key initiatives being implemented by Milton Keynes Council to make the city a low-carbon and emission-free centre. The network, which does not rely on any financial contribution from the rate payer, enables electric vehicle owners and operators to recharge their cars several times faster than conventional chargers and allows easy access to the Milton Keynes regional shopping centre and recreation facilities.

Virtually every car manufacturer is now bringing plug-in cars to market and it is widely expected that by 2020, one in ten cars sold will be electric. This new network of rapid charging stations will help drivers using these cars to make a significant reduction to air pollution and carbon emissions.

Councillor Keith McLean, Milton Keynes Council Cabinet member for Transport said: "This is excellent news for local electric vehicle drivers and is another vital step to lowering our collective carbon footprint in line with the Council's low carbon strategy. We have enjoyed a very constructive relationship with Chargemaster Plc, a local company, for the last four years and we are pleased to be able to extend this partnership.

“The fact that Chargemaster be fully responsible for extending the network each year and for all the operating costs of the units rather than the council means that we can make valuable savings to the council budget. The city will get all the benefits of having a comprehensive network of charging points".

David Martell, Chief Executive of Chargemaster Plc, added: “I’m very proud of our installation teams and partners, who have worked tirelessly over the last 6 months to get this project completed and operational ahead of schedule. It has been a pleasure to work with Milton Keynes Council, which has a ‘can do’ attitude and positive approach to helping motorists make the most of their electric vehicles on a day-to-day basis.”

List of CrossLink rapid charger sites:

MK Bus Station, Elder Gate, Milton Keynes Avebury Boulevard, Juntion with Lower 12th Street, Milton Keynes Outside Xscape, Avebury Boulevard, Milton Keynes Northfield Drive, Northfield, Milton Keynes Silverstone Circuit Innovation Centre, Silverstone, Northants Silverstone Circuit Wing, Silverstone, Northants Cheltenham Racecourse, Cheltenham, Gloucester W. Ganderton, Swan Garage, 20 Bridge Street, Buckingham MK18 1AF Oxford Belfry Hotel, Milton Common, Thame, Oxfordshire OX9 2JW Elms BMW, 4 Sheepfold Ln, Cambridge CB23 6EF Cambridge Belfry Hotel, Back Ln, Great Cambourne, Cambridge CB23 6BW Elms BMW, Clifton Parc, Caxton Rd, Bedford MK41 0GL