First ever electric forecourt at an international airport is a 'game-changing moment', says London Gatwick chief

Gatwick has become the first international airport to open an Electric Forecourt®, a dedicated electric vehicle (EV) charging station, with the new GRIDSERVE facility available for all to use from last week.

The brand-new site has 30 high-power and low-power electric vehicle chargers available via contactless payment - ideal for passengers, staff, local residents, commuters, or business fleets - alongside high-speed Wi-Fi, a lounge area, Costa Coffee, Little Fresh convenience store and an interactive EV experience area.

All charging bays are powered by 100% net zero energy, with the fastest chargers capable of adding up to 100 miles of range in 10 minutes. Visitors can also speak to a GRIDSERVE EV Guru to gain advice on which EV may best suit their needs, and take the opportunity to test drive an EV.

And as the airport looks to get to Net Zero or ultra low emissions by 20230, this is a big step in that journey. Brownen Jones, development director at the airport, was delighted to see the new electric forecourt open too the public. “It’s a fantastic, game-changing moment for the whole village that is Gatwick,” she said. “We have people travelling into the airport, out of the airport, staff coming in and out, local residents, it’s such a strategic point to have a genuinely different way to how we power our vehicles.

“We are just off the M23, it’s easy to get in, it’s easy to get out, what could be more straightforward.”

But this is just the starting point for London Gatwick and Mrs Jones said there is a long way to go.