David Lloyd powers up electric car plan
LEISURE entrepreneur David Lloyd is entering the electric car market by launching a company called EV Hub to provide a UK-wide network of charging stations.
The centres will include office space and some could be located beside coffee shops where customers could work or relax while waiting for their vehicles.
Lloyd, a former professional tennis player and founder of the David Lloyd Clubs chain, told The Mail on Sunday he plans to raise an initial £500,000 via crowdfunding to launch a network of five hubs in London. He will then look for further investment to roll them out across the country.
‘We’re in talks with two of the largest supermarket chains about renting space in their car parks,’ he said. ‘We’ve found some great sites.
‘We’re talking to all the coffee chains and with Regus to discuss workspace. It’s a great business model. People are going to be able to charge their cars up with super-fast chargers and be able to work in the meantime.’
Lloyd became an electric car enthusiast on a trip to Florida. ‘Every other car was a Tesla,’ he said. ‘London will be all electric soon. The electric cars you can get now are incredible.’
Lloyd plans to open more than 30 charging hubs in the next four years.