EV charging hubs in the Midlands

author: FutureCar Staff    

Be.EV, a charge point operator, has announced its plans to create thousands of new electric vehicle (EV) charge points in the UK. The company is looking for dwell sites such as retail parks, pubs, and car parks, as well as acquiring freehold and leasehold sites in major cities in the Midlands, including Birmingham, Derby, and Nottingham.

Backed by £110 million from Octopus Energy Generation, Be.EV aims to sustainably accelerate the UK's EV revolution and improve communities by installing reliable chargers across the country. To source new sites in the Midlands, the company has appointed leading commercial property agent FHP.

Doug Tweedie, FHP director and head of Birmingham office, stated that they are considering a variety of easy-to-reach city center and community locations to improve access to charging facilities for local people. The new EV charging sites will primarily focus on retail parks, pubs, and new forecourts, ranging from 0.2 acres and upwards, and will be powered by renewable energy from Octopus Energy.

Tweedie emphasized the importance of the charging experience in driving mass EV uptake and highlighted the funding and impressive operational availability rate of Be.EV's charging network. He expressed excitement about expanding the community-centered public EV charging network in the Midlands and giving more people the confidence to go electric.

Be.EV is currently in discussions with commercial landlords and private landowners, some of whom were not previously aware that their sites could be redeveloped for EV charging purposes. Tweedie explained that there are many vacant sites in the region, such as petrol stations, supermarkets, or drive-thru outlets, which benefit from passing traffic and could be utilized for EV charging.

Asif Ghafoor, CEO and co-founder of Be.EV, expressed delight in working with FHP and bringing charging infrastructure to cities across the Midlands. He highlighted the value of providing reliable, high-quality charging facilities in accessible, convenient locations and the opportunity for property owners to increase footfall and create new income streams while contributing to reducing air pollution.

Both Be.EV and FHP are excited to collaborate on future projects and contribute to the UK's EV transition.

FutureCar Staff