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Future service station for M25 is being planned by students

by DD Staff

May 03, 2024

Dan Sutton, Roadchef's project director

key takeaways

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.

Clacket Lane has two million visitors each year at its westbound site on the M25 near Oxted & Westerham.

Dan Sutton, Roadchef's project director, said service areas were "critical" in helping motorists transition to electrical vehicles and the project aimed to "understand how we can best prepare ourselves for that future".

Students' ideas included turnstile turbines to generate energy for electric car charging, using the kinetic energy of children's play equipment, and incorporating virtual reality (VR), artificial intelligence and augmented reality (AR).

Sam Chevin, from the university's Innovation Centre, said while electric cars are charging they could have VR and AR options available in the service station to help motorists relax after a long drive.

Mr Sutton added: "Others looked at the way in which kinetic energy could be a key focus for us to create renewable energy.

"One of the really interesting ideas was to use turnstiles in the shape of wind turbines."

Mr Sutton said the pushing motion could generate electricity to store in batteries, power coffee machines or redeploy to electric vehicles.

Roadchef has combined some of the best ideas into a 3D walkthrough of what Clacket Lane could look like in the future.