Be.EV's First NatWest and KfW IPEX-Bank Backed Charging Hub Now Open in Hulme
National EV charging network Be.EV sparks excitement with the launch of an ultra-rapid charging hub at Hulme Retail Park.
The site is the first to be funded via Be.EV’s landmark £55 million debt financing partnership with high street giant NatWest and Germany’s project and export financier KfW IPEX-Bank, announced in 2024.
Located at Hulme Retail Park, the new hub marks another step in addressing the growing demand for public EV chargers in Greater Manchester and across the UK.
While roughly two-thirds (65%) of British homes have access to or potential access to off-street parking <https://www.racfoundation.org
In Manchester alone, an estimated 60% of households lack access to off-street parking, underscoring the critical need for accessible public charging infrastructure.
More than one million new electric vehicles (EV) were registered in Greater Manchester between 2009 and 2023, representing around 10% of the UK’s total EVs.
This new site adds to Be.EV’s growing network, helping the North West cement its status as the region with the fastest growing demand for EVs in the UK, while ensuring access extends beyond affluent areas to include diverse communities.
In recent years, Hulme has been undergoing a remarkable transformation, with initiatives like “Hulme Community Garden Centre” or “Hulme Living’ by One Manchester”, aimed at improving its sustainability and infrastructure.
Be.EV’s new charging hub is another step in this ongoing renewal, enhancing the appeal of Hulme as a modern and sustainable community.
Hulme has become a beacon of modern urban living, attracting professionals, families, and students alike thanks in part to the £2.6 million investment that came from the Greater Manchester Green Spaces Fund.
The money has supported over 100 green projects across the wider region, including the Manchester Green Pathway, the St. Wilfreds Home Garden and the Forever Fields.
The Hulme Retail Park hub features six ultra-rapid charging bays, capable of delivering up to 165 miles of range in just a 20-minute stop. All chargers are powered by renewable energy supplied by Octopus Energy.
The investment will continue to support the national growth of Be.EV’s network, expected to hit a total of 1,600 charge points this year.
To celebrate the opening of the new charging hub at Hulme Retail Park, Be.EV is offering all drivers a 50% discounted charging rate during the site’s Welcome Week, from Monday, February 10th until Sunday, February 16th, when charging with their Be.EV app or RFID card.
Asif Ghafoor, CEO of Be.EV, comments: “This new site in the south of Manchester highlights the power of collaboration, with our deal with NatWest and KfW IPEX-Bank paving the way for the efficient expansion of ultra-rapid, reliable EV charging.
“This trailblazing partnership demonstrates how public sector vision, private expertise, and backing from national banks can make a real impact—accelerating the nationwide roll-out of EV infrastructure and bringing charging solutions to communities that need them most.
The Hulme site is a prime example, joining a growing network of Be.EV hubs in key locations like retail parks. These hubs not only serve local communities and EV drivers but also support retailers by driving increased footfall, showing how well-placed infrastructure can benefit both shoppers and businesses alike.“
Bruce Riley, Head of Energy Transition at NatWest, said: “Developing a high quality, reliable network of charge points across the UK is central to encouraging the adoption of battery electric vehicles nationally that will help decarbonise the transport system. NatWest is delighted to play its part through financing these investments.”
Andreas Ufer, Member of the Management Board of KfW IPEX-Bank commented: “We are glad to support Be.EV and thus help advance the e-mobility infrastructure in the UK. It is our mission to advance the mobility transition with our financings in Europe and worldwide and drive the change towards decarbonisation in our societies.”
Councillor Hans Mundry, Leader of Warrington Borough Council, which serves as the landlord of Hulme Retail Park, stated: “We fully support the continued rollout of EV charging facilities throughout the North West, and we’re delighted to welcome Be.EV as new tenants at the retail park.”
Note to the reader:
Be.EV’s new charging site at Hulme Retail Park is located at 100 Princess Road, Manchester M15 5AS.
About Be.EV
Be.EV is the UK’s 4th top-rated large rapid/ultra-rapid EV charging network in the UK (as voted by EV drivers and revealed by zapmap <https://www.zap-map.com/news/
It currently operates a growing network of over 750 live charging bays across the UK, a figure expected to reach 1,600 by the end of 2025. It is backed by £110 million from Octopus Energy Generation – the majority shareholder and one of Europe’s largest renewable energy investors – and a further £55 million from lenders NatWest and KfW IPEX-Bank. These green partnerships are powering Be.EV to accelerate the UK’s EV revolution by installing reliable and accessible EV Charging Hubs across the country.
Its core focus is on what EV drivers of today and tomorrow want: publicly accessible, rapid and ultra-rapid Charging Hubs conveniently located on busy routes, at dwell destinations and in the hearts of communities nationwide. Be.EV is uniquely focused on customer and community over kit – engaging with its 48,000+ members who play an active role in shaping their cleaner and greener neighbourhoods of the future. It recognises that great customer experience is key to EV adoption, charger usage and network growth, so has invested heavily in its brand, customer and community offerings to ensure Be.EV is the no. 1 charging network of choice for EV drivers in the UK.
About NatWest Bank
NatWest serves customers in England and Wales, supporting them with their personal, private, and business banking needs. NatWest helps customers at all stages in their lives, from opening student accounts, to buying their first home, setting up a business, and saving for retirement. Alongside a wide range of banking services, NatWest offers businesses specialist sector knowledge in areas such as manufacturing and technology, as well as access to specialist entrepreneurial support.
About KfW IPEX Bank
Within KfW Group, KfW IPEX-Bank is responsible for project and export finance. It supports German and European companies operating in key industrial sectors in global markets by structuring medium and long-term financing for their exports, funding infrastructure investments, securing supply of raw materials and by financing environmental and climate change mitigation projects worldwide.
It finances technologies of the future to support the transformation of its customers and the transition towards sustainable society in all three dimensions – economic, environment and social.
As specialist bank, KfW IPEX-Bank has extensive industry, structuring and country expertise, it takes on leading roles in financing consortia and actively involves other banks, institutional investors and insurance firms. KfW IPEX-Bank operates as a legally independent group subsidiary and is represented in the most important economic and financial centres across the globe.
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