Gridserve has opened its fifth Electric Forecourt in the United Kingdom, unveiling what it describes as its flagship electric vehicle charging destination at Markham Vale in Derbyshire.
Located at Junction 29A of the M1 motorway, the new facility combines high-power charging infrastructure with retail, co-working and customer amenities to support a growing number of electric vehicle users.
High-power charging for cars and commercial vehicles
The Markham Vale Electric Forecourt features 39 rapid charging bays, including 36 dedicated to passenger vehicles and three designed for larger electric vehicles such as heavy goods vehicles, coaches, vans and vehicles towing trailers.
The site also includes three accessible charging bays located near the main entrance to improve access for drivers with disabilities.
According to Gridserve, every charging bay is equipped with a 400kW charging unit supplied by ABB, making the facility one of the highest-powered public charging locations in Europe.
The charging infrastructure is supported by a new electricity grid connection and is powered using 100% net-zero energy. The site also incorporates 138 rooftop solar panels rated at 455 watts each, while a rainwater harvesting system has been installed to reduce reliance on mains water.
Charging hub includes retail and workspaces
In addition to charging facilities, the site includes a customer building featuring a Costa Coffee outlet, a convenience store, lounge areas, free Wi-Fi, co-working spaces and meeting rooms.
The retail building operates daily from 6:00am to 9:00pm, while the charging facilities remain available 24 hours a day throughout the year.
“This latest site brings a world class facility and an entirely new scale of charging provision to the region,” said Ross Watson, General Manager at Markham Vale.
“As electric transport continues to expand across every sector, the site has been designed to support the next generation of mobility from day one. We’re excited to open our doors and welcome visitors, whether they’re GRIDSERVE regulars, charging for the first time or just EV curious. We’re here to demonstrate that the future is here and the future is electric.”
The opening increases Gridserve’s nationwide charging network to more than 200 locations across the UK.
The company also said its network has been recognised by Zap-Map as the country’s most-used public electric vehicle charging network.