A new £1m electric vehicle charging facility is to be installed in Sale Water Park. Sixteen bays will go live at the 152-acre park in August, making it the largest hub of its kind in Greater Manchester.
It’s the latest development in a collaboration between Be.EV and Trafford Council, which has already seen more than 41 chargers go live across the borough. 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.
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Visitors to the Sale Water Sports Centre will benefit from the installation, with kayakers, swimmers, dog walkers and sailors able to charge their vehicle whilst 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 on any given day.
With 1.2MW of power being delivered across 16 charging bays, Trafford Council say the project is a 'major step' in their mission to enable more of the public to switch to electric vehicles. The council will retain ownership of the site and the chargers will be owned, installed and maintained by Be.EV, who will also provide Trafford Council with a share of the site's profits.
Asif Ghafoor, CEO of Be.EV, said: “We’re delighted to be bringing Kempower’s innovative chargers to Sale Water Park. The unique technology will make it easier than ever for visitors looking to charge their cars whilst out on the water, enjoying the scenery, or simply taking a break from travelling on the motorway.
“The site is also a 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.”
Councillor 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.
