Motor Fuel Group rolls out electric charging expansion as petrol crisis grows

HE largest independent fuel operator in the UK today unveils its flagship electric vehicle charging station in Putney, insisting it is part of the solution to the petrol and fuel crisis engulfing London and much of the rest of the country.

With petrol stations at supermarkets and elsewhere closing due to a lack of fuel and the government urging motorists not to panic buy, the Motor Fuel Group is rolling out its EV expansion plan.

The forecourt on the A3 in Putney, South West London has eight rapid electric charging bays which deliver 100 miles of range in 10 minutes.

That is part of MFG’s £400 million investment in new electric charging stations.

A poll last month for the Evening Standard showed that Londoners are ready to go green and switch to electric vehicles, but many say there are simply not enough chargers to make it realistic.

William Bannister, CEO of MFG, said: “London motorists are leading the way when it comes to EV adoption, but the majority of London’s EV drivers cannot charge at home. The public charging network needs to keep up with the rapid change in consumer behaviours, and the MFG EV Power network will do just that. Within the M25, our 2021 EV roll-out programme alone will nearly quadruple the number of open-network 150kW EV Chargers that were installed at the start of the year.”

MFG operates 900 fuel stations under the BP, Shell, Esso, Texaco, Jet and Murco brands.

MFG says it will operate a “duel fuel strategy” from here on, aiming to make electric charges as available as petrol

The Company has so far opened 44, 150kW chargers in the Capital with a further 50 planned by the end of 2021.

Bannister added of the new forecourt: “This is an important site for us as we see Putney as the industry-leading blueprint for the future of UK forecourts to achieve a practical transition from fossil fuels to electrically powered vehicles.”