EV chargers at West Midlands shopping centre to increase footfall and spend

Mayfair-based real estate asset and development management company Sovereign Centros has secured the installation of 32 twin-socket electric vehicle charging points at the Merry Hill shopping and leisure destination in the West Midlands.

The EV charging hub has resulted through investment from Leeds-based EV charging specialist Zest as the installer and operator of the charge points. With the ability to charge 64 cars simultaneously, Merry Hill becomes one of the largest EV charging initiatives in the West Midlands.

Sovereign Centros says it is responding to an undersupply of EV chargers in the local area, and Merry Hill offers both fast and rapid chargers selected to reflect the average customer dwell time. The 22kW “fast” chargers add about 90 miles’ range an hour and the more powerful rapid chargers provide customers with options to match the purpose of their visit to the centre.

According to recent research conducted by data and technology business consultancy CACI, 68% of consumers who intend to own an EV will visit retailers and businesses more frequently if they provide the right charging facilities.

And with EV sales up by 76% in the UK in 2021, and 42% of consumers indicating their next car will be an EV, the new chargers create a significant opportunity for Merry Hill to capture increased footfall and spend.

Graeme Jones, director at Sovereign Centros, said, “Electric vehicles are the future, and we want to ensure we provide visitors with as much accessibility to sustainable travel options as possible. We know how important taking positive action against climate change is to customers, and we want to continue to align as much as we can with these values. The implementation of Merry Hill’s new charging points is the first in a series of sustainability-focused initiatives that put our commitment in action, and we are delighted Zest has invested in our destination and partnered with us on this crucial scheme.”