NEWCASTLE’S business village Hoults Yard has launched the region’s largest public-access electric car charging installation.
Hoults Yard clients as well as people living nearby in Byker and Ouseburn now have access to the 12 charging points all day, every day.
Consett-based Elmtronics, the UK’s leading electric car charging company, installed six single chargers and three double charge points at the heart of the Yard.
Charlie Hoult, MD at HyHubs which owns and runs Hoults Yard, said: “It’s top-up charging at this stage, for urban visitors who need a boost or overnight trickle charging for folk without their own dedicated home facility – such as people who live in blocks of flats or terraces where you can’t park at your front door.”
Reed Ingram, Director at Ingram AV, an audio visual solutions company based on the Yard, was one of the first to use the chargers: “We’ve been using electric vehicles at the company for four years so we were delighted when the Yard installed the chargers. I’m using them to charge my own car as well as the company vans.”
A further three chargers are being installed for use by Hoults Yard client, Opencast Software.
Scott Duncan, Associate Consultant at Elmtronics, said: “Elmtronics is proud to support Hoults Yard with the supply, installation and management of their first EV charge points.
“The busy business village is home to both commercial and leisure facilities and surrounded by housing which will make the new charging infrastructure a valuable community asset.
“As more people make the switch to electric vehicles, having the option to charge while at work or overnight in community locations will be critical, and this mixed-use approach will enable Hoults Yard to recoup some of their initial investment through charging tariffs. It’s a model that we expect more business parks to implement in the future.”
The new chargers are part of a wider green sustainability policy being developed by Hoults Yard owners HyHubs. This policy includes a focus on Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) both for HyHubs and clients.
HyHubs also owns and runs Haylofts in Haymarket, Newcastle and Hypoint on Saltmeadows Road, Gateshead. For more information, go to www.hyhubs.com