Students have been researching ways to use solar energy, virtual reality, and the kinetic energy of kids’ swings to build a “service station of the future” in Surrey.
The Innovation Center at the University of Bristol worked with Roadchef, the company that manages Clacket Lane Services, to develop futuristic ideas for the location.
At its westbound location on the M25 at Oxted and Westerham, Clacket Lane welcomes two million tourists annually.
Roadchef’s project director, Dan Sutton, stated that the study’s goal was to “understand how we can best prepare ourselves for that future” and that service areas were “critical” in assisting drivers in making the switch to electrical vehicles.
The kinetic energy of children’s play equipment, turnstile turbines to produce energy for electric car charging, virtual reality (VR), and artificial intelligence were among the ideas put forth by the students.
