Be.EV charging oasis to set benchmark for future developments
Manchester-based Be.EV, one of the UK’s fastest-growing public electric vehicle (EV) charging networks, has begun construction on the city’s first large scale charging oasis.
The site, located on the corner of Reliance Street and Oldham Road, is the only project of its kind in the UK to repurpose a former petrol station into a modern EV charging hub.
The plot of land was a derelict petrol station for more than 15 years, and is now being regenerated as the forecourt of the future – equipped with 12 ultra-rapid charging bays capable of charging an EV to 80% in just 20 minutes.
The charge points are accompanied by four labelled waiting bays, giving EV owners clear spaces to queue if the Hub becomes busy. These are ready to be converted into full charging bays, when demand requires.
The Charging Oasis will also be home to a new store by coffee house Caffè Nero, which has signed a deal with Be.EV to be the exclusive retail partner on site.
The Nero Express store will serve as the latest drive-to site in Caffè Nero’s 1,100-store estate, and comes as part of the brand’s wider strategy to provide high quality, barista-made coffee to commuters and local communities alike.
Both brands are bringing a commitment to providing a welcoming space for EV drivers, with the store providing a warm and welcoming environment for drivers to recharge while their vehicles power up or grab a quick coffee to go while passing through.
The partnership brings an additional layer of community focus to the charging oasis, with the project being a key part of the ongoing regeneration of the Failsworth area.
Manchester City Council has already committed more than £550m to help regenerate the Failsworth area, and the site will serve as a focal point for attracting further investment to the region.
Asif Ghafoor and Dominic Williams, Caffè Nero regional manager
Positioned on a high-traffic route between Manchester and Oldham, more than 26,000 commuters pass by the site daily. With more than 1,242 registered EVs in the area, and in excess of 150,000 EVs set to be on Manchester’s roads by 2038, there’s a clear demand for future-proof, accessible charging infrastructure, says Be.EV.
All bays will be accessible, including one fully accessible bay and one specially designed for vans, with each charger featuring a water-repellant canopy to keep drivers dry.
The site also features free Wi-Fi for all users as well as CCTV to ensure members of the community are safe.
The charging oasis marks Be.EV’s first project of this scale, and is set to serve as a model for similar Be.EV locations across the UK, with plans for more to come.
Asif Ghafoor, CEO of Be.EV, said: “We’re excited to break ground on our flagship Charging Oasis – this Manchester site will be the jewel in Be.EV’s crown, and it’s an incredible moment for the business.
“We’ve designed the site with EV drivers in mind – we know that they want amenities on-site, either to take an extended break from driving, or simply to pop in and grab a takeaway coffee.”
He added: “Having Caffè Nero on board as our retail partner is a real testament to the project. The partnership elevates the site from somewhere for drivers to quickly charge their car, to a destination for them to grab a coffee and recharge their own batteries, too.”
Will Stratton Morris, Caffè Nero CEO, said: “With every Caffe Nero store, we aim for it to be a hub in the community where people can come together, feel welcomed and enjoy premium hand crafted coffee.
“The store we are opening at the Manchester Oasis will be just that, and it matches perfectly the ambitions Be.EV have for the site.”
The construction of the charging oasis is expected to be completed by spring 2025, with the site opening shortly thereafter.
Partners of the site include Architect That, AY, Vital, Kempower, MES (M Group), Formula Space and Matrix.
