GRIDSERVE has opened a new charging hub at London Gatwick – its first at an international airport.

Located on the Ring Road South approach to the airport's South Terminal, the new London Gatwick Electric Forecourt has 30 charging bays, including 22 ultra rapid 350kW units, supplied by 100% net zero energy.

The new chargers increase charging capacity by five-fold, claims GRIDSERVE, and will "revolutionise travel for passengers, employees, private hire fleets and the local community", it said.

Just like with GRIDSERVE's other Electric Forecourts in Braintree and Norwich, retail and food outlets are on-site, including brands Little Fresh and Costa, along with electric advice from GRIDSERVE EU Gurus and test drive facilities.

Toddington Harper, CEO of GRIDSERVE, said: “We are excited to open our first charging facility at an international airport and help support London Gatwick on its journey to net zero. Our purpose at GRIDSERVE is to deliver sustainable energy on the scale needed to move the needle on climate change, and this is certainly a project that moves the needle for the airport, and local workers and residents.

“It is clear that with this awesome London Gatwick Electric Forecourt we have continued to raise the bar, in delivering the best possible customer experience. In addition, we have also stepped up our efforts relating to EV awareness and information, test drives and car leasing, helping to accelerate the switch to electric in the vicinity. We look forward to welcoming all current and potential EV drivers to GRIDSERVE’s new London Gatwick Electric Forecourt.”

Bronwen Jones, Development Director at London Gatwick, said: “We are proud to be the first European international airport with its own dedicated electric vehicle charging forecourt. GRIDSERVE has been placed in a strategic location and will be available to millions of passengers, commuters, staff, residents and businesses that pass through the area each year. We are making sustainability part of everything we do here at London Gatwick and we are committed to creating a low-carbon economy by providing new infrastructure that everyone can use, so together we can reduce emissions.

“As we invest in our long-term, future growth additions such as GRIDSERVE are vital to London Gatwick’s ecosystem.”

GRIDSERVE said construction on a fourth Electric Forecourt has already begun. The site on the Knebworth Estate, Stevenage, will be located near junction seven on the A1(M), and will allow 34 electric vehicles to be charged simultaneously. Planning permission is also approved at several other sites including Markham Vale, Gateshead,Plymouth and Nevendon (Basildon), with more than 30 additional sites also under development.

GRIDSERVE London Gatwick has 30 charging bays including 22 ultra-rapid 350kW units