Senior executives from Kew Green Hotels, the Charge Point Operator (CPO) PoGo Charge and ChargeSafe gathered at the Holiday Inn Birmingham in Chapel Lane for the launch of the initial phase of up to 40 new charging hubs set to be installed at hotels across the UK, enhancing public charging availability and accessibility.
PoGo Charge’s new Birmingham hub at Holiday Inn Birmingham has six 200kW ultra-rapid PoGo Touch Plus chargers for day-time visitors and six 7kW AC Posts more suited to overnight guests. Each of the 12 bays is clearly marked with hatched areas in front each charger to improve accessibility; an end bay has additional hatching on either side.
The installation is the first in a contract signed last year for PoGo Charge to deliver 32 sites in 2024 for Kew Green Hotels which in addition to the Holiday Inn Birmingham will comprise a further 176 ultra-rapid EV charging points and 156 AC EV charging points at hotels nationwide. Thirteen of those sites are expected to be delivered by June 2024*.
Stuart Douglas, Managing Director of PoGo Charge, says this is a major step forward in the development of the PoGo network: “We are delighted that our strategic partnership with Kew Green Hotels is now live, and are excited to open our first site to drivers through this partnership. The installations will prove a major boost to EV motorists across the UK and a major benefit to the hotels in meeting the needs of their guests.”
Chris Dexter, CEO for Kew Green Hotels, views the installation of EV chargers in hotel car parks as a key step in driving the business’ Net Zero commitments: “We are always embracing new ways to positively contribute to the world around us, and we know that our guests are looking to do more too,” says Chris. “Providing access to EV charging will not only offer more choice for our guests but partnering with PoGo Charge means we’ll also be able to extend this access into the wider EV driver community, something we are very keen to do.”
Among the invited guests was Kate Tyrrell, Founder of ChargeSafe, a champion of safer and more accessible charging sites who is actively lobbying for PAS 1899:2022 to be mandated. The design for each of the new sites for KGH is informed by guidance from PAS and ChargeSafe, to incorporate their requirements into the design areas that are within PoGo’s control to future proof its sites.
