Electric vehicle chargers arrive at Straiton Retail park as part of new rapid charging network

Electric vehicle (EV) owners will be able to charge their cars as they shop at Straiton Retail Park.

Four charging bays for EVs, including a rapid charger, have been installed at the Peel L&P retail park owned site at Straiton Mains, close to the Edinburgh City Bypass.

The new technology is part of Drive Energi, a new joint venture between Peel NRE (part of Peel L&P) and Box Energi to build, own and operate one of the largest retail-located rapid charging networks in the UK.

The charging bays are located at The Terrace, a £13 million development with retail space which was finished last month with the opening of Starbucks.

The Tritium Veefil 50kW rapid charger will typically charge an EV to 80% in 35 minutes depending on battery capacity and existing charge, helping drivers to add up to 100 miles of range.

Three Alfen Eve Single 7kW chargers at the site will recharge a compatible EV with a 40kWh battery in four to six hours.

The chargers will be hosted on the GeniePoint app with the 50kW rapid charger supporting contactless payments. All chargers will be available on ‘pay as you go’ tariffs (£0.30p/kWh) plus up to a £1 connection fee.

Peel NRE has also recently installed two EV charging points at its Trafford Retail Park in Greater Manchester.

One of the EV bays at Trafforf Retail park in Greater Manchester. Pic: Mark Waugh

Jonathan Burley, commercial director at Peel NRE, said: “There is a growing interest in electric vehicles and our joint venture with Box Energi will help to provide the infrastructure needed to support this demand across the UK as well as at our own sites.”

Julian Wilkinson, director of Peel L&P Retail Parks, said: “As we continue to improve and reinvest in our parks, we’re pleased to be working with Drive Energi to bring charging points to The Terrace to time perfectly with the project reaching completion and for our customers to use whilst they shop.”

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this article. We're more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by coronavirus impacts our advertisers.

If you haven't already, please consider supporting our trusted, fact-checked journalism by taking out a digital subscription at https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/subscriptions.