Students plan futuristic service station for M25

Students have been investigating how to create a 'service station of the future' in Surrey using virtual reality, solar power and the kinetic energy of children's swings.

The University of Bristol's Innovation Centre collaborated with Roadchef, which runs Clacket Lane Services, to create futuristic concepts for the site.

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.

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