Overview

It might sound a bit strange, but this is a location I’ve been looking forward to reviewing ever since I read, about a year ago, that Osprey were unveiling the largest public ultra-rapid charging hub in Scotland just a few miles down the road. I’ve got a bit of a love-hate relationship with EV chargers, mostly hate, because so many are still inaccessible. It’s frustrating how often I come across charging sites where accessibility clearly hasn’t been properly considered. So, let’s see how they’ve done here.

Transport & Parking

Located in the Phoenix Industrial Estate in Linwood, the site is served by local bus routes that pass through the area, though it's unlikely you'll be taking the bus and charging your car unless something goes wrong. There are no rail routes within reasonable distance.

Access

Firstly, as a new installation, it's pristine. The passage of time will surely change that, but for now it's vibrant, mostly level and easy to navigate using either a chair or a mobility device. Most of the spaces are slightly larger than a standard parking space, with enough room to open a door on one side. You could open the car door on both if there were nobody else there, but if someone arrives, you might get blocked from entering your own car. There are 16 spaces in total, with a notable corner space that would allow for some "creative parking" if you need a bit more space. The chargers are supported on what I can only describe as metal coils, though they do little for the weight of the cable, which may make charging difficult if you don't have the upper-body strength, which is frustrating. One thing I will celebrate, however, is that the card readers are accessible from a seated position, which is nice, though some have short bollards in front. For context, there are eight groups of chargers, some of which have as many as four chargers. Those positioned at the front have bollards to protect the machine, I expect. There are 220kW CCS and CHAdeMO. I didn't notice any use of alternative formats at this location. In summary, this is another EV facility with more bad than good when it comes to accessibility. There is free guidance available on how to design sites like this and the ways you can make them a pleasant experience for disabled drivers, but it has been overlooked at this landmark site, which is disappointing.

Toilets

There are no accessible toilets at this location, although there are accessible toilets in many of the cafés and restaurants, in the Cinema and in the local Asda.

Staff

The location is unstaffed.

Anything else you wish to tell us?

You have plenty of options for places to go while you wait for your car to charge. The Marmalade Pot faces onto the chargers and offers a variety of drinks, non-alcoholic for drivers of course, flame-grilled food and traditional fare. McDonald's is nearby if you're watching the budget, and a Showcase Cinema is across the way if you fancy a film, though your car will surely be charged before the film ends! Other businesses in the area are Asda, B&M, Matalan, TK Maxx, Argos, Smyths Toys, Pets at Home, Timpson, Max Spielmann, Home Bargains, and Arnold Clark. For food and drink, there’s Greggs, Starbucks, Costa Coffee, Tim Hortons, Taco Bell, Nando’s, KFC, and the Marmalade Pot. Plenty of options to grab something while you shop.

Photos