Featured image credit: Be.EV
League Two football club Rochdale has fitted three electric car charging stations at the Crown Oil Arena through a partnership with Be.EV.
Rochdale director Tony Pockney recommended the stadium’s car park bays to Be.TV, an electric vehicle charging network, back in October 2021 in an open call for new charging sites across England.
The Crown Oil Arena was confirmed for development and construction began last month. The stations were unveiled yesterday (Monday) and are now available for use by visitors to the stadium and the wider public.
Each rapid charger can charge a typical electric vehicle to 80% in 20 minutes to an hour, compared to four to six hours on a 7kW fast charger. Be.EV has projects across the UK and is looking for further sites at sports venues.
Pockney said: “Rochdale Football Club is proud to be an EFL Green Club member and we are always looking for projects to support our ever-growing green credentials. Therefore, as environmental sustainability lead director for the club, I nominated the Crown Oil Arena as a site for charging points.
“As an EV driver myself, I know that there are few charging points in the Rochdale area. I have also been amazed at how few football grounds that I have travelled to currently offer this facility. I hope by having a charging facility at the football club it will encourage more fans, players, staff and local residents to own and use EVs.”
Asif Ghafoor, chief executive at Be.EV, added: “We are delighted to be able to bring these rapid EV chargers to the community of Rochdale and that our football club can contribute positively to the need for more charging infrastructure.
“Not everyone is able to charge their EV at home and Rochdale AFC has given something back to the area by hosting these chargers. EV charging hubs at stadiums and sporting grounds across the country are still few and far between – this absolutely has to change. The more who follow the example of Crown Oil Arena, the more sustainable match-day travel will become.”
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