A network of 14 electric vehicle (EV) rapid chargers, forming the so called ‘Milton Keynes CrossLink’ was completed four weeks before the planned launch date, supplier/operator Chargemaster said.
The rapid chargers are some of the first ‘tri-standard’ units in the UK and will allow EV drivers to charge their cars in approximately 20 minutes, enabling cross-country motoring through the English counties of Cambridge, Bedford, Milton Keynes, Buckingham and Oxford.
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CrossLink is a Milton Keynes Council initiative and the charging units are sited at strategic locations connecting Cambridge and Bedford in the East with Milton Keynes and Cheltenham, Oxford and Buckingham with Milton Keynes to the south west.
The ‘tri-standard’ charging points are designed to work with all the latest electric cars on sale in the UK including the new BMW i3, VW e-Up and the Tesla Model S, the first UK-specification units of which reach the country next month.
The network of charging points was funded partly by the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) under a government scheme supporting the growth of ultra low emission vehicles and the respective charging network.
Milton Keynes CrossLink is one of the first from this round of OLEV funding to be completed, and is one of a number of key initiatives being implemented by the local ouncil to make the city a low-carbon and emission-free centre. The network, which does not rely on any financial contribution from ratepayers, enables electric vehicle owners and operators to recharge their cars several times faster than conventional chargers and allows easy access to the regional shopping centre and recreation facilities.
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By GlobalData“Virtually every car manufacturer is now bringing plug-in cars to market and it is widely expected that by 2020, one in 10 cars sold will be electric. This new network of rapid charging stations will help drivers using these cars to make a significant reduction to air pollution and carbon emissions,” Chargemaster said.
