Coventry secures over £12m for next step in its green plan
Coventry has taken the next step in its ‘green plan’ to become a clean-air city by securing over £12m to install more than 2,100 on-street electric vehicle charging spaces.
The new charging points will be powered by nearby lamp posts or connected to an independent power supply.
Since about 46% of Coventry households don’t have private parking, on-street charging points are essential to help them switch to electric cars.
Public transport and taxis are also shifting towards cleaner options, with over 26 electric taxis already in use and 140 National Express electric double-decker buses operating in the city.
Coventry aims to have an all-electric bus fleet by the end of 2025.
In March, the Council also secured an extra £400k to add 76 new charging points in areas like Radford, Upper Stoke, St Michael’s, Bablake, Longford, Sherbourne, and Foleshill by March 2025, brining the total number of on-street charging spaces in Coventry to 2,307 by that time.
Councillor Jim O’Boyle, cabinet member for jobs, regeneration and climate change, said: “We are delighted to have secured yet more funding to improve charging infrastructure in areas where people don’t have a driveway as we know this is a real barrier to electric car ownership. Although we already have one of the best charging point networks in the UK, we know more are needed.
“There will be bay markings and sensors installed in each space which will mean we can monitor usage and identify when electric car ownership increases while allowing petrol cars to park there until demand increases.
“Together, our plans for Coventry Very Light Rail, our first class segregated cycleways and the fact that we will have an all electric bus fleet show how we are leading the green revolution in travel. Being able to own an electric vehicle wherever you live is really important so this new money is a real boost – giving all residents the option to charge an electric vehicle as near to their homes or places of work as possible.”
