Construction has started at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) site in the West Midlands on electric vehicle charging infrastructure that will eventually have 180 charging points, which NEC says will make it one of the largest charging hubs in Europe.
The work is being carried out by SDCL Energy Efficiency Income Trust’s (SEEIT’s) dedicated electric vehicle charging infrastructure development company EVN. EVN has agreed a 30-year exclusive contract with the NEC group to develop and build the charging infrastructure at the NEC campus, which received planning approval in May 2022.
The hub’s forecourt will contain 300kW DC chargers capable of charging 32 EVs at any one time. Served by 16 high speed DC chargers, each will be able to fully-charge a vehicle in 15-30 minutes. A solar canopy will help to generate electricity for the hub. The hub will also have access via a new entrance from the ‘through’ road, just off junction 6 of the M42 and close to the M6. Plans include an adjacent, drive-through coffee franchise for visitors waiting for vehicles to charge. This will provide indoor seating and an additional 26 standard parking bays for other patrons.
An existing car park will accommodate the hub’s remaining 150 points for 7kW AC-charging, which will be used by NEC Birmingham customers.
The EV charging hub will also allow the NEC to electrify its operational vehicles.