And that’s a wrap!

The Electric Vehicle Experience Centre is now closed, but look at what we have achieved over the years!

The EVEC was set up in 2017 in centre:mk shopping centre, Milton Keynes by Chargemaster, in conjunction with Milton Keynes Council and Go Ultra Low’s £9 million funding for the Go Ultra Low Cities scheme.

The goal was for 23% of all new vehicle sales in Milton Keynes to be electric by 2023 and we have certainly achieved this, we have recorded over 400 confirmed orders and SMMT Data Information for 2021 was 24%.

The centre has seen more than 200,000* people through the door, achieved more than 5,500* on the spot short test drives and completed more than 2,200* longer test drive experiences.

We have also hosted more than 250 events (internally and externally), including the launch of the Nissan Leaf in 2018, the first UK public appearance of the Audi e-tron, Fully Charged (Live Announcement), Fully Charged (Maddie Goes Electric), EV Café, participated in the ‘Charge to the Circle’ challenge, long term involvement in the MK Council Pedalling Culture project, training days for local businesses and vehicle manufacturers and several vehicle manufacturer takeovers.

Within the showroom we have featured the MINI Electric shell, BMW i3 shell, BMW i8 Roadster, Driverless Aurrigo Pod, Kyburz e-Rod and the pre-production Renault ZOE 50.

During the covid-19 lockdowns, our vehicles were utilised by Milton Keynes Council (for food bank deliveries and pharmacy deliveries). We also supported the MET police with some vehicles during lockdown to assist officer movements. We have continued to support the Milton Keynes Council Social and Care Team with some vehicles for home visits.

We’d like to thank everyone that has been involved to keep the centre going for five years, bp pulse, Milton Keynes Council, Department for Transport, Rainbows Car Wash, we’d also like to thank the many manufacturers we have partnered with over the years, Renault, Volvo, Nissan, Vauxhall, Volkswagen, Skoda, KIA, Mitsubishi, BMW, Audi and MINI.

*Please note, the centre was closed for over 7 months plus other tier based restrictions.