Electric car experience centre to join Centre:mk
The Centre:mk shopping centre has unveiled plans to debut Milton Keynes Council’s Electric Vehicle Experience Centre.
The launch comes as part of the wider Milton Keynes Go Ultra Low Cities Programme in which £9 million was awarded to the city in January 2016 to encourage the uptake of low emission vehicles and hit the target of 23% of all car sales being electric or plug-in by 2020.
The EVEC will be the first of its kind to launch in the UK and will be managed by electric vehicle charging company Chargemaster.
Situated at 26 and 28 Crown Walk and covering 3,870 square feet, the centre will display cars from the likes of Mitsubishi, Nissan and Renault with makes and models regularly rotated. Centre:mk will act as a showcase for the vehicles, offer demos, provide experts to answer customer questions, and refer interested visitors to a relevant local dealership or partner leasing company.
The space has been designed by motor industry retail specialist TRO.
Ed Sellick, on behalf of Centre:mk joint owners, Hermes Investment Management and AustralianSuper, said: “We are excited to be supporting this initiative from Milton Keynes Council that demonstrates an innovative and committed approach to improving the future for the region. Showcasing the latest low emissions vehicles to the millions of visitors further enhances the centre:mk’s importance as one of the top 10 prime retail and leisure destinations within the UK.”
Milton Keynes residents and businesses will also be able to test-drive a range of vehicles as well as lease low-emission vehicles on a longer term with the help of heavily subsidised rates from the EVEC.
Brian Matthews from Milton Keynes Council added: “This one-of-a-kind showroom will prove to be a high-profile resource, enabling visitors of Centre:mk to experience the initiative in a high-quality environment. Their support throughout our low emissions initiative will no doubt attract visitors and add real value to the centre.”
