Overview

I stopped at Gretna Green Welcome Break Services on the way to Newcastle and encountered these chargers in the car park. At a time when there’s a clear push towards electric vehicles, it’s evident that the accessibility of EV chargers remains an afterthought. These charging units have a somewhat futuristic design, but until I can control them with my mind and make the cables plug themselves in, Tesla Superchargers will feel anything but super. If this is the future of driving, I’m content in the present.

Transport & Parking

Access

The chargers will, of course, charge vehicles, but their placement is so awkward that wheelchair users and those who use a walking aid will struggle to take hold of the cables. With no support wires to bear the weight, the cables can be difficult for those who find them heavy. They are also raised up, on a kerb, and set among loose stones, further distancing them from your car. In front of the charging units, there are standard-sized parking spaces, which are oddly offset from the chargers' position. This also presents a real risk of getting blocked in if someone parks on the side you enter your car. Unlike other EV chargers, these charging units are managed via the Tesla app. This means there's nowhere to tap a card, or a poorly placed screen as I see on so many other chargers. There are 14 Superchargers at this location, all of which are 150kW DC chargers.

Toilets

Staff

Photos