Osprey Charging, an electric vehicle (EV) charging network, has been selected by British Garden Centres, a UK-based garden centre group, to install rapid EV chargepoints at its UK stores.
Osprey claims its rapid chargers can add 100 miles (160km) in range to an EV in a 20-30 minute charge, which reportedly aligns with the average time spent by a garden centre customer.
The British Garden Centre in Carmarthen, Wales, will be the first to be fitted with Osprey’s rapid chargers, at a hub with eight ultra-rapid (150kW) chargers.
The pair intend to follow-up the Carmarthen hub with high-power hubs in Dorset, Yorkshire, Essex and Harrow in London.
A total of 11 further locations have been confirmed with a mix of larger hubs and smaller installations, depending on sites’ size and power capacity.
British Garden Centres hopes to review its entire estate with the aim of bringing Osprey’s charging technology to all of its centres across the UK in the next few years.
Last month, Osprey committed to accessible and safe charging by becoming the first charging network to subscribe to ChargeSafe, an independent EV infrastructure body, which will allow the firm to inspect and rate its sites. This pledge will apply to any chargepoints added to the garden centres.
Ian Johnston, CEO of Osprey Charging, said: “The British Garden Centres name is synonymous with first-class customer experience, and we’re delighted to provide safe, reliable, and accessible charging at their UK stores.
“We look forward to a fruitful partnership as we work together to offer EV charging at more of its centres up and down the country.”
The 12 confirmed stores to be fitted with rapid chargers are Carmarthen, Wimborne, Osterley, Harrow, Braintree, Wolseley, Albrighton, Carr Gate, Newton Regis, Gillberdyke, Towneley and Brigg.
