The National Trust has offered its members free electric vehicle charge point access for the past couple of years, but they’ve been mostly confined to Wales, where sites benefitted from the ZeroNet scheme. The remainder of National Trust sites have largely been void of electric car friendliness, but things could be set to change.
The National Trust has signed a contract with Rolec EV as their preferred EV charge point supplier, manufacturer and installer. As a result, Rolec’s range of EV charging points could be installed across National Trust UK sites.
The free to use charge points could include Rolec’s simple to use and reliable AutoCharge pedestals that would offer free and reliable electricity to the Trust’s millions of visitors each year. In addition, National Trust sites may be provided with Rolec’s electric vehicle wall units to encourage zero-emission driving and facilitate adoption of an electric car lifestyle for the National Trust’s 6,000 strong staff members.
Visitors to the National Trust’s popular Holiday Cottages, more than 400 historic buildings available for week-long rentals, have also been given preferential option to install Rolec’s HomeCharge units, but decisions are taken locally and decided by each property on an individual basis. Nonetheless, these could encourage electric vehicle vacationers by providing the facility to recharge their EVs while visiting the local area with zero-emissions.
There is no formal programme to rollout electric charge points, but the deal with Rolec offers each National Trust property a structured purchasing framework to assist with the buying and installation process.
Managing Director of Rolec EV, Kieron Alsop, commented: “We are delighted that the National Trust has appointed us as a provider of EV charging points to many of its sites throughout the country. The organisation is clearly working hard to lessen its environmental footprint and has chosen Rolec products to help them achieve that goal.”
The National Trust, a conservation charity which owns hundreds of popular locations throughout the UK, has stated that it is committed to championing sustainable transport and mitigate climate change by cutting its overall energy use by 20 per cent by 2020 – and source 50 per cent of that from renewable sources on their land.
Source; National Trust & Rolec EV
