It seems that one fossil fuel proprietor going down the path of transitioning to EVs hasn’t quite got the memo about how charging stations work yet. And neither have their employees.
Motor Fuel Group has more than 500 sites in the UK with EV chargers installed, even on Guernsey and Jersey off the coast of France.
It says its goal is to install 3,000 ultra-rapid 150kW and 350kW chargers by 2030, so it is about a sixth of the way there.
And they’re “absolutely glorious,” UK EV expert Tom Callow said, posting on Twitter on Monday (UK time).
“Absolutely glorious: lit, canopied, covered by CCTV, right next to a 24-hour shop with toilets, coffee, hot food, WiFi and a seating area. Spot on from @MotorFuelGroup, here,” he said.
Absolutely glorious: lit, canopied, covered by CCTV, right next to a 24-hour shop with toilets, coffee, hot food, WiFi and a seating area. Spot on from @MotorFuelGroup, here 👌 pic.twitter.com/LYX3K5WGxo
— Tom Callow (@au_tom_otive) July 10, 2022
But, one Twitter user who has also used the MFG warned Callow to remember to register the car once he’d pulled in, or risk getting a parking fine.
“MFG are great. Remembering to register the car reg at the counter is one negative though,” said Andrew Till (otherwise known on Twitter as “Mr EV”, and who shared his story about being criticised for unplugging an EV that had stopped charging, as we reported here.)
“Yep! £100 fine in the post the other day, appealed and even the shop staff didn’t know I had to,” said Danny Gilham in reply.
“Absolutely ridiculous,” replied Till.
“Oh yes. I forgot about that. When I used the one in Manchester recently, I only saw that sign by chance and so popped in and registered. It’s a really stupid and pointless policy,” said another.
Unfortunately Callow did not know about the policy either. Let’s hope he doesn’t get a fine in the mail also.
Bridie Schmidt is associate editor for The Driven, sister site of Renew Economy. She has been writing about electric vehicles since 2018, and has a keen interest in the role that zero-emissions transport has to play in sustainability. She has participated in podcasts such as Download This Show with Marc Fennell and Shirtloads of Science with Karl Kruszelnicki and is co-organiser of the Northern Rivers Electric Vehicle Forum. Bridie also owns a Tesla Model Y and has it available for hire on evee.com.au.