Gateway Centre retail park gets £1m ultra-rapid electric vehicle charging hub

The Gateway Centre in Oldham has received a new ultra-rapid charging hub, in a £1 million deal with Manchester-based electric vehicle charging network Be.EV.

Switched on and ready for use, the site is home to 16 ultra-rapid charging bays, making it one of the largest ultra-rapid EV charging locations in Greater Manchester. 

The Gateway Centre shoppers are to benefit from a smooth and convenient charging experience while browsing the shops that are within a one minute walk, including Aldi & B&M Home Stores.

Drivers can also monitor their charge level from their mobile whilst doing their shopping through a QR code.

The retail park sees an average of 27,000 cars pass by every day, and with only six other ultra-rapid EV chargers within two miles of the site, the charging hub will be a welcome addition for commuters travelling through Greater Manchester.

Currently the local community only has access to 25 EV chargers, meaning the 120,000 Oldham residents will also benefit from the charging site’s convenient location just off Chadderton Way and less than a mile from the town centre. 

The 70,000 square foot site is equipped with cutting-edge Kempower chargers that feature unique load balancing abilities, ensuring that drivers get the power they need.

Kempower’s chargers can intelligently distribute energy supply between vehicles according to capacity and demand - meaning if one car reaches the maximum amount of power on one charger, any residual energy supply can be reassigned to another vehicle connected on-site. 

The technology, commissioned and maintained by Vital EV, is capable of delivering up to 150kW - fast enough to add 125 miles of range in a 15 minute stop. 

This rate of charge is more fitting to the dwell time of shoppers, who don’t stick around for the eight hours it takes for a 7kW fast charger to fill a typical EV. 

With 1.2MW of power being delivered across the 16 charging bays, the project is a major step forward for the Gateway Centre and Oldham in their mission to drive clean air in the area. 

Oldham has historically been behind the curve when it comes to EV chargers, and Be.EV’s partnership with the Gateway Centre increases the number of ultra-rapid charging bays in Oldham by 38%. 

This makes affordable charging more accessible to those in nearby communities, while simultaneously reducing air pollution in the area. 

Be.EV maintains the largest network of public EV chargers in Greater Manchester, and the chargers will be powered by renewable energy from Octopus Energy, ensuring the move to a totally green transport system is achieved.

Anyone will be able to use the chargers, but Be.EV members will be able to access a discounted rate across the company’s rapidly growing network.

Be.EV CEO Asif Ghafoor said: “We are putting significant investment into Oldham.

"These Kempower chargers are really cutting edge, and unlike lamppost chargers we’ll still be using these in 20 years or more. 

“It’s a charging hub that responds to the needs of shoppers and the community - take a look at the future of EV charging.

"With drivers able to browse the nearby shops whilst their vehicle is plugged in, this site offers so much more than just functional, fast charging. 

“It shows how with the help of private partners we can spur the transition to electric vehicles and clean our cities up.”

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