Be.EV plots Greater Manchester charging stations
The electric vehicle charging network provider has unveiled plans to build a charging hub at the corner of Reliance Street and Oldham Road in Newton Heath and a smaller ultra-rapid mini-hub in Rochdale.
The Newton Heath hub would have 16 charging bays for electric vehicles, as well as a convenience store and a coffee shop. Protecting the charging bays from the elements would be a canopy that would also double as a green roof.
The hub would sit on the site of a former petrol station that has out-of-use for more than 15 years. Lipton Plant Architects designed the proposals, which are currently in the consultation phase. To learn more about the scheme visit beevreliancestreet.consultationonline.co.uk.
Be.EV would build the charging hub on the corner of Oldham Road and Reliance Street. Credit: via consultation docs
The mini-hub in Rochdale would be located at St Mary’s Gate Retail Park and would have eight charging bays. These would be supplied power from two power banks which can deliver enough electricity in around 10 minutes to allow cars to drive 100 miles, according to Be.EV.
Be.EV estimates that the Rochdale mini-hub will be active early next year. St Mary’s Gate Retail Park landlord Glenbrook Investments is working alongside Be.EV to create the mini-hub.
“Hosting public EV charging at perfectly situated sites like St Mary’s Gate benefits both our tenants and the local community,” said Glenbrook investment director Richard Rees.
Rees continued: “It’s an easy way for landlords to support the roll-out of much-needed sustainable infrastructure. It’s good for Rochdale and it fits with our drive to support positive change through our investment process.”
Asif Ghafoor, chief executive of Be.EV, said: “This is the North levelling itself up. Rochdale deserves and needs great infrastructure, and we all work together to deliver it – without a penny of public money and without waiting for Westminster to send help.
“A very progressive TfGM has put us on a mission to look after and build on their public EV charging network, by engaging anybody who can and wants to host EV charging,” Ghafoor continued. “It allows us to go out and find partners like Glenbrook Investments to help us build a great network for the North faster.
“This is just the first of many new sites we’ve got in our sights in and around Rochdale, but it will make a huge difference to existing and aspiring EV drivers in the town already.”
Be.EV currently has more than 140 chargers across Greater Manchester.
Good. Yesterday I spent 2 hours trying to find a charger with 6/7% of battery remaining.
Reasons –
Rochdale Leisure Centre – charger in use
Morrisons, Rochdale – out of action
Hopwood Service Station – card reader not working
Heywood Civic Centre – petrol car in the available charger space
These will be of fantastic benefit especially for those living or travelling through Newton Heath & Rochdale.
By Anonymous
More of these types of developments will be needed across the country if electric vehicles are to be become a viable alternative to petrol and diesel vehicles. We have an electric car and home charger but we won’t travel out of range due to the inadequacy of the existing public charging infrastructure already mentioned by Anonymous.
By Sally Cinnamon
We need more of these across GM and the north!
By Jimmy J
More of this please!! I hope the green roof is well-designed to serve a valuable purpose, rather than just being a gimic.
By Ardy