New Forest Park teams up with BMW UK to boost EV nature trips

The New Forest National Park Authority and BMW UK are marking a significant milestone in their partnership today with the official launch of a new twin electric vehicle (EV) charging point in the National Park.

New Forest National Park & BMW UK partner to connect EV drivers to nature

This collaborative effort not only aims to enhance the EV charging network but also includes BMW’s funding for the appointment of two apprentice rangers. Additionally, around 80 young people will receive support to better connect with nature and feel inspired to protect it.

Located in the Jubilee Field Car Park in Sway, one of the New Forest’s most central locations, the new twin charging point will increase the availability of public EV charging options for both local residents and visitors. This means more EV drivers can now enjoy the unique beauty of the National Park’s ancient woodlands, wild heathlands, and stunning coastlines.

This installation is a significant achievement for the Recharge in Nature Project, which aims to install EV charge points across all 15 UK National Parks, from the Cairngorms in the Scottish Highlands to Dartmoor in England’s South-West. By the end of the three-year partnership in 2025, there will be a total of 135 charge points established thanks to this collaboration.

With over 100 million annual visits to the UK’s National Parks, 93% of which are made by car, improving the National Parks’ EV recharging network is crucial. This improvement allows for better access to the UK’s most precious wild landscapes for drivers of low-emission and quieter vehicles.

Graham Biggs, BMW UK’s corporate communications director, expressed pride in leading the initiative towards more sustainable tourism in the New Forest, one of the UK’s most beloved landscapes known for its free-roaming ponies. As EVs now account for over 18% of the UK’s new car sales with growing demand, a well-established EV charging infrastructure is essential for decarbonising travel and tourism in and around the nation’s celebrated beauty spots.

Biggs highlighted the Recharge in Nature partnership with the UK National Parks as a vital step in expanding rural EV chargers, reducing driving emissions, noise, and air pollution.