New electric charging points go live at Bowker Blackburn

A Lancashire automotive retail group is investing a million pounds in electric vehicle charging infrastructure and 50 new electric charging points.

With one in five UK cars now being battery-electric vehicles, the decision to install new charging points at Bowker on Trident Park in Blackburn reflects the increasing popularity of the growing BMW and MINI hybrid and electric models.

Bowker BMW is already one of the top 25 per cent performing dealers in the UK for electrical vehicle (EV) sales. A high proportion of these sales go to local Lancashire businesses - who will now benefit from the new 22 kw and 50 kw charging points.

For Bowker Motor Group, Chris Eccles said: "This is fantastic news for Bowker and our customers. By investing in new EV chargers, we are addressing some key priorities for Bowker Motor Group. We all know that new chargers are a more environmentally friendly approach to powering vehicles. This is a global trend towards eco-friendly technology.

“Better still reinvesting in our business benefits the local community. We’ve used local contractors to install the new chargers. And by using local suppliers whenever possible, we help build a stronger local economy."

Similar new chargers went live at Bowker BMW and MINI in Preston earlier in the year. Lancashire-based electric charging installer Smart EV Solutions is installing the new Bowker Motor Group EV chargers. Based in Preston, Smart EV Solutions specialises in commercial and domestic electric charger installations.

Established in 2020, the Preston electrical contractors have already installed more than 100 EV chargers and have seen substantial growth in the number of investment companies installing EV chargers over the past 12 months. 

The EV charger investment continues Bowker Motor Group’s long-held environmental focus. This began ten years ago, when Bowker BMW in Blackburn installed 206 new solar panels on the centre's roof. Since the five-figure installation, the panels have delivered CO2 savings estimated at almost 500 tonnes. That amount is equivalent to the amount of carbon sequestered by 80,000 trees grown from seedlings during the same time.

Then last year Bowker Blackburn installed 323 more. The move will allow the car centre to generate a quarter of its electricity needs from solar energy. It will also help reduce its carbon footprint by saving 26 tonnes of carbon emissions.For over 15 years, Bowker Motor Group has recycled glass, cardboard, and even rubber tyres that are reconstituted for reuse, including flooring for children's playgrounds.