City’s electric vehicle charging strategy plugs into grant funding

An on-street electric vehicle charging point (Credit: Connected Kerb)

155 on-street electric vehicle points will be installed across Coventry after the city council plugged in to a £700,000 grant.

The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) has approved the funding which will see work start in early January.

The new charge points will increase the number installed in the city to more than 550 when they become operational by the middle of next year.

This round of charging points will be maintained and operated by Connected Kerb under a profit-sharing agreement with the Council. Connected Kerb will also put forward 25% of the funding for the installation of the charge points, backed by the OZEV grant.

Councillor Jim O’Boyle, cabinet member for jobs, regeneration and climate change, said: “This new funding means we can boost the number of charge points in residential streets with no off-road parking and help to ensure Coventry is one of the best places in the country to own or use an electric vehicle.”

The charging points will provide seven kilowatts of power, making them suited for longer, typically overnight stays.

A separate grant from the Highways Agency recently boosted Coventry City Council’s Electric Fleet First scheme, which encourages businesses to switch by offering a free trial of an electric van or car.

“Our electric vehicle charging network is just one part of our transport strategy,” added O’Boyle.

“Whether it’s the proposed Gigafactory which would make Coventry the best place in the UK to build an electric vehicle, or Coventry Very Light Rail and our plans for an all-electric bus city, we’re ensuring the city is leading the green industrial revolution and building a cleaner, greener and more convenient transport system.”

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