Manchester Charging Oasis opens on site of former petrol station

Charge point operator Be.EV, which was established in Greater Manchester in 2019, has opened a Manchester Charging Oasis in Failsworth.

The site is on the site of a former petrol station and has undergone a comprehensive decontamination process, following which it has been officially certified as a green site by Manchester City Council, making it one of the first former petrol stations in the UK to be repurposed for clean energy use.

The top layer of tarmac is made from recycled tyres, while the wildflower garden and trees on site will also generate a net biodiversity gain of 21.2%.

The site is now home to an ultra-rapid charging hub, with twelve 300kW ultra-rapid charging bays  allowing drivers to add up to 325 miles of range in a 20-minute stop.

The Oasis offers two extra long bays, an accessible bay and four waiting bays where drivers can park while waiting for a charger.

The Oasis is sited on a significant commuter route between Manchester and Oldham and is expected to serve over 26,000 daily commuters, bringing an anticipated 3% rise in spend at nearby businesses.

One of the chargers was designed by a pupil at a local school, as part of a competition run by Be.EV following an educational day for the children at the Manchester Charging Oasis to teach them about EVs, EV charging and net zero.

To celebrate the opening, on Saturday 21st June, drivers will pay just 1p/kWh, guaranteeing them a full charge for under £1.

Asif Ghafoor, CEO of Be.EV, said: ‘This flagship site has been a long time in the making, and we’re thrilled that it’s open to the public. It’s taken a lot of hard work to get to this point and is a proud day for everyone in the business.

‘This site will change ultra-rapid public charging forever. It’s been designed to give drivers exactly what they want – not only amenities to give them a break from driving, but also trees, wildflowers and nature that makes drivers excited to come here and charge.

‘We can’t wait to see members of the local community and EV drivers at our event on Saturday, which is why we’re giving them the cheapest EV charging anywhere in the country to celebrate. This site will also be 50p/kWh going forward, making it the cheapest ultra-rapid charging site in Manchester. We care about our community, and want drivers to know that we’re on a mission to give drivers cheap charging that they can count on every time.’