Manchester’s Sale Water Park is set to receive a new state-of-the-art charging hub in a £1m deal with EV charging network Be.EV.
16 ultra-rapid charger bays will go live at the 152-acre parkland and lake in August, making it the largest ultra-rapid charging hub in Greater Manchester. It’s the latest project in Be.EV’s wider collaboration with Trafford Borough Council, which has already seen more than 41 chargers go live across the region.
The ultra-rapid chargers mean drivers will be able to charge their cars from 20 per cent to 80 per cent in as little as 20 minutes. The site will be equipped with cutting-edge Kempower chargers that feature unique load balancing abilities. Kempower chargers can intelligently distribute energy supply between vehicles according to capacity and demand, meaning if one car reaches the maximum amount of power on one charger, any residual energy supply can be reassigned to another vehicle connected on-site.
Visitors to the Sale Water Sports Centre will benefit from the installation, with kayakers, swimmers, dog walkers and sailors able to charge their vehicle while out on the water or grabbing a bite to eat at the Treetops Café or Boathouse Grill restaurant.
Located two minutes from the M60, Trafford residents and commuters will also be able to access the site around the clock, with the site able to charge over 380 cars a day.
With 1.2MW of power being delivered across 16 charging bays, the project is a major step forward for Trafford Borough Council in their mission to enable more of the public to join the EV movement.
Be.EV’s public charging network is the largest across the North West with a rapidly expanding national footprint. The network boasts a operational availability rate of 99.6 per cent.
The council will retain ownership of the site and the chargers will be owned, installed and maintained by Be.EV, who will provide Trafford Council with a share of the site’s profits.
Asif Ghafoor, CEO of Be.EV, said: “The site is testament to Trafford Council’s ambition to have a real impact on Greater Manchester and take the necessary steps towards a net zero future. We are proud to be at the forefront of the EV transition alongside them. They are exemplary partners in the creation of a reliable and sustainable transport network. We look forward to continuing our partnership.”
Cllr Aidan Williams, executive member for climate change at Trafford Council, said: “Since the council declared a climate emergency in 2018, we have committed to a range of activities in an effort to achieve zero carbon status for the borough as soon as possible.
“This includes the delivery of projects that encourage people to make more journeys by bike, on foot or using public transport. However, we fully understand that this is not always possible and that it’s vital we support people to have cleaner, greener vehicles.
“Becoming home to the largest ultra-rapid charging point in Greater Manchester shows how serious Trafford is about electric travel. Ensuring the charging infrastructure is in place is a key component in making electric vehicle use a viable option for people in the borough.”
Be.EV is Transport for Greater Manchester’s preferred charging partner, and the Sale Water Park site is helping the charge network reach its ambitious target of getting each of Trafford’s 236,000 residents within 10 minutes of a charger.
