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The site, located just off the A131, is the first of more than 100 electric forecourts being built by Gridserve over the next five years.
The Braintree Electric Forecourt enables 36 electric vehicles to be charged simultaneously, with high power chargers that can deliver up to 350 kW of charging power. Drivers will initially pay just 24p per kWh of energy, including VAT.
Toddington Harper, founder and chief executive of Gridserve, said: “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 traditional petrol station model for a net-zero carbon world and delivering the confidence people need to make the switch to electric transport today – a full decade ahead of the 2030 ban on petrol and diesel cars.”
Drivers can visit state-of-the-art facilities while their vehicles charge. This includes retail space hosting WHSmith Travel, Costa Coffee, Booths, Post Office, and Gourmade. The facility also includes a waiting lounge, free superfast WiFi, high-end washrooms, dedicated children’s area, a wellbeing area with exercise bikes that generate electricity, and business meeting room pods.
Toby Keir, managing director at WHSmith, said: “We’re delighted to be partnering with Gridserve’s Electric Forecourt to deliver a new first-class customer experience, with fantastic service and a tailored retail offer including WHSmith, Post Office, Costa Coffee and Booths.
“It’s a great concept and we look forward to playing our part over the next hundred years with the future of electric cars.”
