UK electric vehicle (EV) charging company Chargemaster has announced that the launch of the country’s first ever multi-brand EV showroom will take place on 22nd July.

The new Electric Vehicle Experience Centre (EVEC), located in Milton Keynes, will open to the public on Saturday 22nd July to showcase a range of current EV models. It is the first ever electric vehicle showroom and is supported by BMWi, Kia, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Renault and Volkswagen which have all acted as founding partners on the project.

The 4,000 square feet state of the art Electric Vehicle Experience Centre (EVEC) will help inform the town’s residents and visitors about the benefits of electric vehicle ownership in a relaxed setting. It will showcase the latest EVs from a range of leading vehicle manufacturers. Visitors will be able to discuss all elements of owning and running an electric vehicle, as well as having the option to test a range of cars on local roads.

The EVEC’s official founding partners, BMWi, Mitsubishi, Renault, Nissan, Kia and Volkswagen, will display a range of leading EVs to suit all budgets and buying needs, in a relaxed, shopping centre environment.

EVEC is managed by Chargemaster and funded by Milton Keynes’ Go Ultra Low City scheme. It has been established to increase the number of EVs sold in the area, with a target of 23 percent of all new cars registered locally to be electric by 2021. Chargemaster is the UK’s largest manufacturer and operator of electric charging points.

“Opening the Electric Vehicle Experience Centre on 22 July will be a landmark day, not only for the electric vehicle sector, but also for Milton Keynes residents” said David Martell, Chief Executive of Chargemaster. “Becoming the UK’s first multi-brand EV showroom, it will provide a destination for visitors to make an informed decision about owning an EV, without the pressure of having to make an immediate purchase decision. We are delighted to receive the support from six key electric vehicle manufacturers as founding partners of the EVEC. We hope that this buying platform will change the way that electric vehicles are sold in cities and we’re proud to be working with Milton Keynes and Go Ultra Low to deliver this to the public.”

Brian Matthews, Head of Transport Innovation at Milton Keynes Council, added that the EVEC is a centrepiece of the council’s attempt to encourage the uptake of electric vehicles and is a good example of the innovation that Milton Keynes is using to lead the way in transport innovation.

The EVEC is one of a number of initiatives being launched by Milton Keynes Council under the Go Ultra Low City scheme to promote the uptake of electric vehicles. These include significant investment in infrastructure, including the creation of a number of EV charging ‘hubs’, free parking for EVs and further grants for workplace and home charging.