Plans have been announced for Manchester to get its first large-scale EV charging ‘Oasis’.
Providing 16 ultra-rapid charging bays, charging operator Be.EV intends transforming a former filling station site on the Oldham Road into a green forecourt & community hub, with space for local businesses.
Insect-favouring plants & mature trees form an integral part of the site’s design, pictured. A wildflower garden will form a natural boundary along one side of the site, abutting Reliance Street. The site has committed to a “net-biodiversity uplift”, to bring nature back into the postcode, M40 1EZ.
Solar panels providing clean-energy will further improve the development’s carbon footprint. A forecourt roof and shops will feature a biodiverse planting of native British species. Trees will surround the charging ring and dominate the design, bringing with them further animal & birdlife to the site.
The chargers will be powered by renewable energy from Octopus Energy, underpinning Manchester’s shift move to a totally green transport system.
Groundworks promised by Be.EV include de-contaminating the site’s empty subsurface petrol tanks. Instead, new permeable surfaces will collect rainwater to irrigate planted areas and the facility’s toilets.
Straight outta Andy Burnham
Be.EV CEO Asif Ghafoor said: “We’re delighted to launch works for our very first charging Oasis on Reliance Street.
“Our innovative plan reflects Be.EV’s ambition to lead the way in reimagining public infrastructure – creating great charging experiences for today and for the future.
“We worked with Architect That’s talented team to design a site that is not only functional but delivers regeneration in the local area, and looks fantastic. It offers so much more than just charging.
“The more local authorities who follow Manchester’s example, the more clean and sustainable our communities will become, ” said Ghafoor.
Cllr Tracey Rawlins, the City Council’s cabinet member for environment & transport declared : “As Manchester continues our journey to become a net zero carbon city by 2038, initiatives such as this that increase access to handy charge stations. EVs must be a viable option.
“This is one element of a wide range of sustainable transport options in Manchester that are making it easier than ever for our residents to move away from conventional cars. This includes significant investment in active travel across the city, alongside new walking and cycling routes in the city centre, and a move towards a fully integrated public transport system. Together they underpin our commitment to increasing the number of people who choose to travel by a sustainable means.”
Three years ago, the administration of disgraced premier Johnson announced sales of new petrol & diesel vehicles will cease by 2030. Sales of hybrid cars and carbon-lite vans will continue until 2035.
