Quadrant has recently completed a unique project where its eco-friendly cork flooring was installed in the UK’s first electric vehicle forecourt, designed by Bisset Adams and built by GRIDSERVE.
The Electric Forecourt® near Braintree in Essex is powered by net-zero carbon energy and allows 36 electric vehicles (EVs) to be charged at any one time, each at its own maximum capacity. In addition to the charging points, there is a high-end waiting lounge with retail space, wellbeing area, family zone, and business pods, all designed to meet the needs of the modern driver.
As GRIDSERVE’s Founder and CEO Toddington Harper explains:
“Charging has to be simple and free of anxiety, which is why we’ve designed our Electric Forecourts® entirely around the needs of drivers, updating the traditional petrol station model for a net-zero carbon world and delivering the confidence people need to make the switch to electric transport today.”
With over 100 such facilities planned for the next five years, this infrastructure will help address consumer concerns around the practicalities of EV charging. It will drive EV adoption ahead of the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars that is due to come into force in 2030, and will help the UK government reach its ambitious target to cut emissions 78% by 2035 compared with 1990s levels.
To build a ground-breaking and environmentally sensitive development like this, you have to go above and beyond. Some of the key features include moss walls that absorb carbon dioxide and improve indoor air quality, and exercise bikes in the wellness zone that generate electricity to feedback into the forecourt, and of course, the Corkform flooring from Quadrant’s Climate+ Collection – a sustainable and responsible choice for this innovative facility.
Put the Pedal to The Floor
Cork itself is a completely natural, renewable, and recyclable raw material, with the cork oak forest retaining five times more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than other types of tree. What is unique with this cork flooring is that it is produced within a circular economy model that upcycles waste and used corks from the bottle stopper industry, so products from the Climate+ Collection have a negative carbon balance overall.
Corkform flooring is a practical choice for the forecourt. It has exceptional elasticity and shock absorbing performance, resulting in superior wear and mechanical resistance. It has natural thermal and acoustic insulation properties due to the cork’s honeycomb structure, meaning it assists temperature control and sound absorption. Low chemical emissions help to maintain air quality, while water resistance makes flooring quick and simple to clean.
The innovative site also has interactive screens to help visitors learn about transitioning to an all-electric future, as well as a showroom featuring current EV models for users to investigate.
Clean Energy All Round
Perhaps the most obvious sustainable feature of the Electric Forecourt® is its reliance on clean energy and specifically solar power. Large solar canopies above the forecourt generate some of the electricity for vehicle charging, and this is supplemented by 100% renewable energy from the Clay Hill solar farm in Bedfordshire, all forming part of GRIDSERVE’s sun-to-wheel infrastructure. Advanced on-site battery storage helps balance the local grid and shift energy to periods when it is most valuable, all while keeping costs low.
For more details visit GRIDESERVE