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End of petrol? Solar power electric forecourt to charge electric cars in just TEN minutes


The first of more than 100 solar-powered forecourts to be built in the UK have been announced. Commercial vehicles will be able to recharge within 30 minutes at forecourts equipped with next-generation solar panels. While some smaller cars with high-speed charging can be fully topped up in just ten minutes. Gridserve, the British firm behind the billion pound project imagines their forecourts will eventually replace traditional petrol stations.

The first solar powered forecourt will be built in Braintree, Essex and Gridserve has already confirmed more than 80 sites will be built – with even more are in the pipeline.

“Airport-style” lounges will be built as part of the £1 billion ($1.31 billion) project, to offer commuters shops, and facilities as they wait for their cars to recharge.

Construction at sites in Hull and York are also expected to start before the end of the year.

A dearth of charging points, long recharge times and short ranges has so far limited the appeal of electric cars.

READ MORE: Huge new electric car driving law coming next month

The British government wants all new petrol and diesel cars to be emission-free by 2040 but critics have described this timeline as unrealistic.

Electric cars constitute only one percent of all road vehicles but there are increasing efforts to create infrastructure designed to make owning an electric car easier.

Gridserve founder Toddington Harper claims the forecourts and their familiar model to departure lounges and service stations will allow electric cars to become the new normal.

He said: “We are partnering with operators of fleet vehicles, developers, financiers of vehicles and infrastructure, EV manufacturers, retailers, local authorities, and others who share our vision.”

READ MORE: Ford Mustang with Tesla-inspired interior set for UK debut

Current plans also include areas in the forecourt dedicated to commercial vehicles, such as trucks and taxis, to recharge.

Users will have the option of booking a place at one of the forecourts through an accompanying app or just driving in.

Images of what the forecourts may look like were created by Aup, a design company.

Ricky Sandhu, lead and senior consultant, said: “It is vitally important we transition quickly to sustainable, clean new modes of transportation and energy production.”

READ MORE: New Nissan Leaf e+ 2019 REVEALED

New research actually suggests the buying an electric car could save you £41,000 over a lifetime.

The average British motorist will spend over a staggering £56,000 on petrol in a lifetime, according to new figures.

With the average lifetime cost of charging an electric vehicle coming in at some £15,000, savvy Brits could save over £41,000 on fuel by going electric in the near future.



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