Chargemaster to open EV showroom in Milton Keynes

By Elizabeth Howlett

14 June 2017

Chargemaster will be opening an EV showroom in Milton Keynes on Saturday July 22.

The 4,000sq ft showroom based at centre:mk will sell the latest EVs from a range of manufacturers, in what the company believes to be the first multi-brand centre in the UK.

Its electric vehicle experience centre’s (EVEC) official founding partners BMW i, Kia, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Renault and Volkswagen, will display a range of EVs. Visitors will be able to discuss all elements of owning and running an electric vehicle.

Managed by Chargemaster and funded by Milton Keynes’ go ultra low city scheme, the EVEC has been established to increase the number of EVs sold in the area. Milton Keynes’ target is for 23% of all new cars registered locally to be electric by 2021.

Chargemaster’s chief executive David Martell said, “Opening the electric vehicle experience centre will be a landmark day, not only for the electric vehicle sector, but also for Milton Keynes residents. Becoming the UK’s first multi-brand EV showroom, it will provide a destination for visitors to make an informed decision about owning an EV, without the pressure of having to make an immediate purchase decision.

“We hope that this platform will change the way that electric vehicles are sold in cities and we’re proud to be working with Milton Keynes and Go Ultra Low to deliver this to the public.”

The EVEC is one of a number of initiatives being launched by Milton Keynes Council under the Go Ultra Low City scheme to promote the uptake of electric vehicles. These include significant investment in infrastructure, including the creation of several EV charging ‘hubs’, free parking for EVs and further grants for workplace and home charging.

Milton Keynes Council’s head of transport innovation Brian Matthews said: “The EVEC is a centrepiece of our thrust to encourage the uptake of electric vehicles and is a good example of the innovation that Milton Keynes is using to lead the way in transport innovation. We are delighted to be working with Chargemaster and six founding car manufacturers to bring this about.”