The Gloucestershire County Council is set to kickstart the installation of 1,000 public electric-vehicle (EV) charging points at the end of August. Over the course of the next three years, these charging points will be strategically placed throughout the county. The initial phase will see 26 locations, including Cheltenham, Gloucester, and Stroud, receiving these charging points, with additional locations identified in subsequent phases of the project.
According to a council spokesperson, approximately one-third of homes in Gloucestershire lack off-street parking, making it challenging for residents to charge their EVs. The installation of these charging points aims to address this issue, allowing more people to charge their vehicles near their homes, during work hours, or while they are out and about.
This initiative serves as part of the council's strategy to combat the climate emergency by reducing the climate impact of transport and improving air quality. With the government's impending ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030, the council is proactively installing the charging network well in advance, enabling drivers to smoothly transition to electric vehicles.
The funding for this scheme comes from both the county council and the Department for Transport's On Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme. In an effort to optimize resources, the council plans to install two twin charging points in several locations, accommodating four EVs. However, in areas where parking space is limited, initial installations will include only two bays for EVs, with additional bays allocated as demand increases.
David Gray, the cabinet member for environment and planning at Gloucestershire County Council, expressed his excitement about the project, emphasizing the benefits of electric vehicles in reducing emissions, noise pollution, and improving air quality. Chris Pateman-Jones, the CEO of Connected Kerb, highlighted their aim to make EV charging accessible, reliable, and convenient for residents without access to a driveway.
With the installation set to begin, Gloucestershire County Council is taking a significant step towards promoting sustainable transportation and contributing to the overall effort of mitigating climate change.