Brewer and pub operator JW Lees has picked national charge point operator Be.EV to bring ultra-rapid EV charging to patrons in a £1.8m deal.

Be.EV is installing 22 ultra-rapid charging bays at seven locations across the North Wes

Be.EV is installing 22 ultra-rapid charging bays at seven locations across the North West while upgrading the existing charging infrastructure at some sites.

The Urmston (Stretford), The Millgate (Failsworth), The Aviator (Stockport), The Bluebird Inn (Balderstone) and Duke of Gloucester (Crewe) are already switched on and available for public use.

The Aviator in Stockport has been upgraded to six ultra-rapid bays from its previous four fast-charging bays, delivering faster charging times that allow pub visitors to add up to 165 miles of range in a short 20-minute stop.

A further two pubs – the Pointing Dog (Cheadle) and the Moss Trooper (Altrincham) – will have chargers installed in early 2025.

The chargers will serve 12,500 local EV drivers across all these pubs, not including visiting drivers, who are increasingly looking for EV charging at places they’ll be visiting. Almost eight in 10 (78%) of EV drivers say it is essential or important for charge points to be in convenient locations.

Electric vehicle charging is a requirement for all new non-residential buildings with more than 10 parking spaces but it’s also a much-welcome way to increase footfall as the pub industry comes under increased financial pressure.

The partnership shows how pubs can adhere to charging regulations while attracting EV drivers to their sites. Be.EV pays for the installation and maintenance of the chargers and shares a portion of the profits with the landowner.

William Lees-Jones, managing director at JW Lees, said: “As an EV driver myself for the last five years I know how important it is for drivers to have reliable, affordable and convenient EV chargers at pubs and at JW Lees we are working with Be.EV to make our pubs best in class in terms of EV provision.”