The Arnold Clark Innovation Centre
The Arnold Clark Innovation Centre
Now open on Dumbarton Road in Glasgow, the Arnold Clark Innovation Centre is ready to lead you towards the future of driving. The centre puts education at the forefront and aims to explain the benefits of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) while highlighting the great and ever-expanding line-up currently available.
In 2030, sales of new conventionally fuelled cars in the UK will come to an end. While petrol and diesel cars will be around for a while after through the used car market, most manufacturers are well on their way to electrifying their ranges with a choice of hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery electric options.
And while just 1% of the UK population currently drives an electric vehicle, this is expected to increase exponentially in the coming years.
Arnold Clark Chief Executive and Group Managing Director, Eddie Hawthorne, explains: ‘There are a lot of myths and misconceptions about EVs. And this is something we as an industry need to educate our customers about, which is what we’re trying to do.
‘We’ve invested well over £5 million in our Innovation Centre in Glasgow. It’s not a site we are selling anything from. It’s specifically an innovation, information and educational centre. The centre displays alternative fuel vehicles from all the manufacturers we represent, plus some we don’t. We currently have 60 vehicles on-site. These include fully electric, plug-in hybrids, hybrids, and commercial vehicles that are also alternatively fuelled.’
As well as the two managers, there will be five dedicated Innovation Centre product geniuses working at the centre. They all specialise in alternative fuel vehicles and are there to educate customers on the journey towards buying an electric car.
For those thinking of switching to AFVs for their company, a business specialist will also be on site to help them make the most informed choice
While the centre is owned and operated by Arnold Clark, we’re working with the support of a number of organisations to make sure visitors can get all the facts about clean power and AFVs. These include Transport Scotland, OLEV, Scottish Power, Energy Saving Trust, Go Ultra Low, Strathclyde University and The NVT Group who can all provide insights into about how new technology is shaping the way we drive.
With the centre now open by appointment only, visitors can take a test drive in their choice of vehicle including the Volkswagen ID.4, Mercedes EQC, MINI Electric, Hyundai Kona, Kia e-Niro, BMW X2, and BMW i3 – which are all available on site.
