Surrey County Cricket Club is planning to install an electric car charging point at the Oval courtesy of car manufacturer Kia – the ground’s main sponsor.

Korea’s second biggest car brand – which signed a new deal last year to sponsor the Oval until at least 2020 – is accelerating into the electric car market, developing 16 new electric vehicles by 2025.

Installing the charging point will add to the venue’s sustainability credentials. Last month, it pledged to eradicate single-use plastics by 2020.

In 2018, plastic straws will be banned and compostable coffee cups manufactured by Vegware, the eco-friendly packaging and catering company, will be introduced. Reusable pint glasses, supplied by Stack Cup, will be accompanied by similar containers for soft drinks.

The 173 year-old cricket stadium is gearing up to host five matches when England stages the 2019 Cricket World Cup, and Surrey CCC chief executive Richard Gould said the club needed to work with members, fans, partners and staff to “analyse all areas of the business” to find out where alternative products need to be used.

It is understood that the club is open to working with more suppliers if they can add value to the ground’s sustainability operations.

Once plastic bag stock is finished, tote bags or paper bags will be offered to fans buying merchandise, although they will be encouraged to use their own bag.

The move away from plastic follows the Kia Oval’s partnership with Sky Ocean Rescue in 2017, which has resulted in 20,000 fans receiving reusable water bottles, plus the installation of 20 permanent water fountains around the ground.