THE Electric Forecourt supplier, GRIDSERVE, has set up a leasing service in association with broker funder Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions.
GRIDSERVE, which has opened the first of its 100 planned EV-only charging forecourts at Braintree in Essex, includes all charging costs within the lease rental.
Called GRIDSERVE Electric Vehicle Solutions, the company says it is the UK’s first net zero electric vehicle leasing business. The service is designed to bring the cost of driving electric well below that of petrol or diesel cars, and minimise the environmental impact of EVs. Vehicle rentals are supplied by Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions.
Apart from Tesla models, net zero carbon energy is included in monthly leasing payments, so that drivers can charge at GRIDSERVE Electric Forecourts without paying any additional costs. The company says it removes a key barrier to mass EV adoption, enabling people to accurately compare the cost of leasing a petrol or diesel vehicle, plus fuel, with an electric vehicle with fuel included.
The company says it will also plant 100 trees for every electric vehicle leased through the service to help minimise the carbon emissions from supply chain processes, such as manufacturing.
Our partnership with GRIDSERVE is a total game-changer for electric mobility. Not only are we providing electric vehicles at some of the most competitive rates on the market, but we are at the same time developing a network of rapid, reliable and renewably powered Electric Forecourts that will fast-track the electric vehicle revolution in the UK as we prepare for a zero-carbon future.
Robert Gordon, CEO, of Hitachi Capital (UK) PLC
Toddington Harper, founder and CEO of GRIDSERVE, added:
“Together with our Solar Farms and Electric Forecourts, GRIDSERVE Electric Vehicle Solutions completes our ‘sun-to-wheel’ infrastructure designed to deliver net zero carbon transport from 2020 onwards. By including the planting of 100 trees for every electric vehicle leased through the service and providing net zero carbon energy to charge all the vehicles, we’re making EV driving greener, cheaper and more straightforward than ever before.”
GRIDSERVE Electric Forecourt opens
The result of a £1bn UK-wide programme, GRIDSERVE plans to open 100 Electric Forecourt sites over the next five years.
Located adjacent to Great Notley off the A131, the new Electric Forecourt enables 36 electric vehicles to be charged simultaneously, with high power chargers that can deliver up to 350 kW of charging power, enabling 200 miles of range to be added in 20 minutes.
Initial charge costs will just be 24p per kWh, which is currently the lowest ultra-high power charging rates on the market today. It means a typical charge from 20% to 80% will cost under £10.
Together with GRIDSERVE, the project has been funded by Hitachi Capital (UK) PLC, Innovate UK and OZEV (formerly OLEV).
Ralph Morton is the leading journalist in the leasing broker sector and editor of Broker News, the website which provides information and news for BVRLA-registered leasing brokers. He also writes extensively on the fleet and leasing market in both the UK and Europe.
