The new EV chargers, located in some of the busiest sites across the National Park, will support zero emission journeys, while driving, for both tourists and the local community.
The Peak District National Park is charging forward enhancing its accessibility to electric vehicles (EVs), with today marking the completion of the installation of five new twin charging points, funded by BMW UK through its Recharge in Nature partnership with National Parks UK.
The new EV chargers are located at Millers Dale Station, Parsley Hay Bike Hire Centre & Car Park and the Moorland Visitor Centre at Edale. Millers Dale Station and Parsley Hay chargers will be available to the public, and those at Edale will serve guests of the Fieldhead Campsite at the Moorland Visitor Centre.
These are some of the busiest locations in the National Park, increasing the availability of EV charging options for both local communities and visitors. Each EV charging point can charge two cars simultaneously meaning that more EV drivers can travel with confidence to appreciate the Peak District’s picturesque views.
The Peak District’s ‘Peaks of Health’ project is also being supported by BMW UK from Spring 2024, enabling community-based health and wellbeing organisations to make the National Park a more accessible space to walk, cycle and enjoy. Its aim is to help combat barriers that prevent people from accessing the countryside around them, due to lack of transport, social isolation, a loss of confidence, older age, or physical and mental health challenges.
The installation of these new chargers is another step towards increasing the EV charging infrastructure throughout the UK’s National Parks – one of the goals of the Recharge in Nature partnership. To date, 36 chargers have been installed in National Parks across the UK, with chargers in all 15 of the National Parks set to be installed before the end of the three-year BMW partnership.
In total, the UK’s National Parks are visited over 100 million times each year [1] – with 93 per cent of these visits being made by car [2]. Enhancing the EV recharging network is vital to enabling better access for the lowest emitting and quietest vehicles.
Emily Fox, interim head of resources for the Peak District National Park Authority, said: “Being so close to the cities of Manchester, Sheffield, Nottingham and Derby, the Peak District National Park is the most accessible of the UK’s National Parks and we’re so pleased to be able to take this further through the Recharge in Nature partnership with BMW UK. The new EV chargers mean those who live and work in the Peak District, as well as the 13 million visitors we welcome every year, have lower emission travel options, helping protect our National Park now and for future generations. BMW UK’s support for ‘Peaks of Health’ also means we can increase its impact in making the Peak District accessible for everyone.”
Graham Biggs, Corporate Communications Director, BMW UK, commented: “The installation of these new EV chargers in the Peak District means visitors and those living or working in the National Park can now use their electric cars with greater confidence. By increasing the EV charging capacity of the area, it’s helping to reduce emissions and noise pollution in this beautiful landscape.”
Lisa Sensier, Senior Development Manager at National Parks Partnerships, said: “We’re so pleased to see another National Park benefitting from our partnership with BMW. The Recharge in Nature project is set to have such a huge impact, enhancing EV infrastructure as the National Parks work towards net zero, and accelerating our ambitions to restore nature and enhance the wellbeing of visitors to the National Parks. Partnerships like this help us go further faster and we can’t wait to see the fruits of our collaboration over the next few years.”
The BMW Group has set clear CO2 reduction targets across the lifecycle of every vehicle and is constantly seeking new ways to cut emissions. By 2030, the CO2 emissions per vehicle will be at least halved from 2019 levels. BMW Group was one of the first automotive brands to join the Business Ambition for 1.5°C as part of the Paris Climate Agreement – the most robust commitment to the goal of full climate neutrality, over the entire value-added chain, by 2050 at the latest. By doing so, the company is also part of the Race to Zero.
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