Capital Shopping Centres has followed in the footsteps of Meadowhall and joined forces with Elektromotive and EDF Energy to support electric vehicle drivers by offering car chargers at nine major shopping centres across the UK.

With support from the Energy Saving Trust, this new venture is the first of its kind to be launched nationally and CSC is leading the way by offering this facility free of charge within shopping centre car parks. Customers will be able to recharge their electric or plug-in hybrid cars during the course of a normal shopping trip.

The scheme will not only raise awareness of cost and environmental benefits of using electric cars, it will make life easier for all who already drive electric cars but do not have a convenient local charging point.

Chargers are currently available at Braehead, near Glasgow, Chapelfield in Norwich, The Chimes in Uxbridge, The Glades in Bromley, The Harlequin, Watford, Lakeside, Thurrock, MetroCentre in Gateshead, The Potteries in Stoke-on-Trent and The Victoria Centre, Nottingham.

The charging points are simple to use with recharging cables and access keys free to hire direct from the shopping centres.

Kay Chaldecott, managing director of CSC, says: "We are always keen to introduce new methods of enhancing customer experience at our shopping centres, and electric car chargers will not only provide a convenient new facility but will raise awareness of a greener method of transport."

Steve Beverley, sustainable travel manager at CSC, adds: "By supporting the required refuelling infrastructure for electric cars, motorists will feel more confident and comfortable in moving towards greener driving and reducing their CO2 emissions."

Calvey Taylor-Haw, managing director of Elektromotive, adds: "Electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids are without doubt the way forward. With suitable battery technology now available, EVs will have a greater range, delivering a truly viable alternative to fossil-fuelled cars. They are not only cheap to run but are quiet, clean and fun."

David Warren, CEO of car valet company Motorclean, which operates at both Bluewater and Meadowhall, believes it is essential that its service is environmentally-friendly. "As a responsible organisation, it is crucial to address and react to today's environmental issues," he says. "One, related to our day-to-day work as car valeters, is the conservation of water. Water is a valuable natural resource and it will become even more so as climate change affects the UK.

"We audited the options available several years ago, in line with our keenly felt responsibilities and the knowledge that we clean 2.5 million cars annually. We introduced some key strategies to ensure our organisation is doing its utmost to meet its obligations.

"These included installing highly effective water pumps that minimise the amount of water used," he adds, "ensuring all cars were only washed in the shade, to minimise evaporation and the need to use more water to do the same job; and installing special filters in the drains in our washing bays at locations where we wash cars for the public - these filters collect particles of oil that coat dirty cars, thereby preventing run-off water from being contaminated.

"We looked into waterless car-wash solutions, but rejected them for three reasons," Warren explains. "Firstly, they are less effective than our conventional detergent. Secondly, our conventional detergent was chosen because it biodegrades rapidly and is therefore more environmentally-friendly. Finally, it was less expensive to proceed with our usual method, meaning our customers would not be impacted."

Motorclean has also been educating the public about the best way to wash their cars by producing a guide to help them save money and be environmentally responsible at the same time.

Cover story

Specialist contractor USL StructureCare has applied the finishing touches to a major roof-top car park refurbishment at The Mall Middlesbrough.

Owner The Mall, through its agent Savills, invited contractors to investigate options for the refurbishment project and USL, which recommended it completely remove the existing coating and re-waterproof the roof using Mastic Asphalt, in conjunction with its own range of Movement Joints, was appointed as main contractor.

"Many perceive USL StructureCare as simply applying lightweight coatings, but it was clear from our detailed pre-contract investigations that the existing surface needed replacing in full," said USL contracts manager Bill Ewing. "It is our aim to offer owners of multi-storey car parks the correct solution and in this case Mastic Asphalt was in our view the best way to proceed both technically and commercially."

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