East of England Co-op becomes driving force for greener lifestyle

Green motorists in Suffolk are set to benefit from the introduction of a new network of electric car charging points across the county, thanks to an investment from the East of England Co-op.

Working with EV Driver the Rendlesham-based Electric Vehicle charge point operator, the East of England Co-op has added new charging points to four food stores across Suffolk and to the Co-op’s headquarters at Wherstead Park, Ipswich.  Electric car drivers will be able to charge their cars by paying with a smartphone app or RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification) key fob, this is a Pay-as-you-go service costing 25p per kWh used and 50p connection fee, no annual or monthly membership fees are applied.

Other charging points can be found at Co-op supermarkets in Felixstowe, Wickham Market and Saxmundham Road in Aldeburgh and the Co-op food store in Darsham. The Co-op also has an existing charging point at its new funeral premises in Quayside, Woodbridge.

A recent report revealed that 90 per cent of UK automotive executives expect battery electric vehicles to dominate the automotive marketplace by 2025.

Nick Denny, Joint Chief Executive at East of England Co-op said: “As our customers’ habits change, so should we. Electric cars are becoming a common sight on our roads, and we are pleased to support customers that are choosing to live a greener lifestyle. If this pilot scheme proves popular we will look to expand our network of charging stations across our estate.”

Over the past five years the number of electric car charging points in the UK has increased from a few hundred in 2011 to more than 4,200 in October 2016. This increase reflects the number of electric cars now being used, with approximately 87,000 now registered in the UK.

Linda Grave from EV Driver said: “Partnering with the East of England Co-op means we can reassure electric vehicle drivers of a reliable and convenient charging point, right in the heart of their community. As we move towards a cleaner driving future, these new locations contribute to an important increase in the region’s public charging infrastructure and improving our air quality.”

For more information on the East of England Co-op, visit www.eastofengland.coop. For more information on EV Driver visit www.evdriver.co.uk.