

On the eve of the opening of the Norwich Electric Forecourt, we sat down with General Manager, Chris Ward to have a chat.
This year, Electric Vehicle (EV) charging in Norfolk has gone from a place of relative obscurity to a position of quiet confidence. Thanks to 22 High Power chargers, 8 Tesla Superchargers and a further 6 Low Power chargers – all available 24/7 at the Norwich Electric Forecourt® – charge anxiety-induced knots in stomachs have now been untangled and replaced by a futuristic scene of green walls, copper cladding and contented calm.

Chris is right. Our aim at GRIDSERVE is to inspire a systemic shift in the way modern society drives, produces energy and treats the planet, removing our burden on fossil fuels. Of course, we’ve looked at ourselves first, developing our own large-scale hybrid solar + battery farms across the UK and distributing this clean energy to our awesome and emerging EV charging infrastructure. The Norwich Electric Forecourt® delivers net zero carbon energy and has also been built sustainably, featuring energy-saving initiatives such as rainwater harvesting to water plants and flush toilets, plus a 50kWp rooftop solar array that provides half of the facility’s energy needs. Your Costa Coffee will taste even better now.
The Norwich Electric Forecourt® opens this week, come on down!

Chris also concedes that the new job has accelerated his own sustainability journey. “When you see the ‘Sun to Wheel’ ecosystem that GRIDSERVE is pioneering, it makes complete sense. But it also demonstrates that at an individual level, small changes can start to make a big difference.” Not only does Chris now drive an electric car, he’s also planning to regularly cycle the 12-mile commute to work.
Beyond charging, there are a variety of facilities that will require constant monitoring, promotion, engagement and management, including bookable meeting pods with full video conference facilities, a relaxing lounge area that can function as an events space and a dedicated EV zone whereby you can browse the latest GRIDSERVE EV leasing deals, book an EV test drive or speak to an impartial GRIDSERVE EV guru about making the switch.
You get the impression that Chris is always going to be wanting to do more and go further for the people of Norwich. This is more than a job and it’s clear his team won’t stop until the furrowed brows of every EV curious person in Norfolk are pebble smooth. His mission for the Norwich Electric Forecourt® is similarly resolute: “We need to make the customer experience the best it possibly can be; not just at a sector level, but at a national level.” The future of EV charging in Norwich is in safe hands.
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