The new EV experience centre, to be designed and produced by experiential marketing agency TRO, will form part of Milton Keynes £9 million Go Ultra Low Cities programme and will managed by Chargemaster with an official launch date in the spring. The company already operates 170 standard public chargers and 56 rapid chargers on behalf of Milton Keynes Council. There are already 52 electric car models available on the market which will be featured by the new experience centre on a “try before you buy” basis. The number of EV models is likely to rise to 99 over the next five years with the loan fleet growing each year.
Milton Keynes was awarded £9 million Go Ultra Low Cities funding in January 2016 to encourage the uptake of low emission vehicles and hit the target of 23 percent of all car sales being electric or plug-in by 2021.
As well as showcasing the latest EVs and exciting technology, highly trained independent professionals will be on hand at the centre to answer visitors’ questions and refer them to relevant local dealerships or partner leasing companies. As an added bonus, Milton Keynes residents and businesses will also be able to test-drive a range of vehicles on a short- or long-term basis.
Other initiatives in the Go Ultra Low Cities programme include a £2.3 million investment into additional Milton Keynes charging infrastructure. This will see Chargemaster supply its latest charging infrastructure to set up two filling-station-style EV rapid charging hubs and 50 destination chargers across the town. The city will also introduce free parking for ultra-low-emission vehicles, as well trialling the latest developments in technology such as inductive charging among other innovative projects to boost EV uptake.
“Our commitment to making Milton Keynes a go-to destination and flagship Go Ultra Low city starts with our residents” said Brian Matthews, Head of Transport Innovation at Milton Keynes Council. “We’re delighted to be working with Chargemaster on this project, and are confident that the team is best placed to champion the EV sector, considering their knowledge and experience of the industry.”
David Martell, Chargemaster CEO, added that the centre will be the first of its kind with the aim being to pave the way for other cities to follow.
Image: Chargemaster
For additional information:
