Brewer JW Lees and Be.EV have teamed up to enhance EV charging options at pubs in the North West.
- This £1.8 million partnership will implement ultra-rapid EV chargers across seven pub locations.
- Upgraded and new charging stations are expected to cater to both local and visiting EV drivers.
- Research indicates the rising importance of convenient EV charging points for drivers.
- JW Lees aims to offer state-of-the-art charging facilities, setting a standard in the hospitality industry.
JW Lees, a notable brewer and pub operator, has allied with Be.EV, a national charge point operator, to bring advanced EV charging amenities to pub-goers in the North West. This initiative involves a £1.8 million investment for installing 22 ultra-rapid charging bays at seven selected pubs.
Several locations, including The Urmston, The Millgate, The Aviator, The Bluebird Inn, and Duke of Gloucester, have already begun to offer these charging services to the public. The infrastructure serves approximately 12,500 local EV drivers, excluding tourists drawn by these conveniences.
Research by Be.EV underscores the shift in driver expectations, with 78% considering conveniently located charging points as ‘essential’ or ‘important’. This growing demand has prompted locations like The Aviator in Stockport to upgrade from four to six ultra-rapid bays, reducing charging time significantly and allowing a 165-mile range boost in just 20 minutes.
Additional charging installations are anticipated at The Pointing Dog in Cheadle and The Moss Trooper in Altrincham by early 2025. This collaboration provides a blueprint for other hospitality venues, aligning with regulations that mandate charging facilities in new non-residential buildings.
JW Lees, overseeing over 150 pubs, is now part of the North’s largest public EV network. By partnering with Be.EV, which funds and maintains the charging setups, JW Lees finds a dual benefit: complying with regulations and tapping into an emerging revenue stream amid financial challenges.
Asif Ghafoor, Be.EV’s CEO, highlights the benefits of regional partnerships in fostering community regeneration. ‘Our charging hubs offer JW Lees customers a reliable moment to charge, keeping the chain at the forefront of quality service,’ he remarked. Meanwhile, William Lees-Jones, JW Lees’ Managing Director, emphasised the significance of accessible EV charging, citing personal experience.
The strategic partnership is both innovative and practical, demonstrating how hospitality businesses can enhance customer service while addressing modern transportation needs.
This collaboration between JW Lees and Be.EV sets a pioneering example for integrating practical charging solutions within the hospitality sector.
