A road in Coventry has been fitted with electric car charging points as part of a new city project.
The street, Holyhead Road, has seen 30 new on-street charging ports installed as part of the scheme in collaboration with technology company Connected Kerb.
This means drivers will be able to charge their car using a mobile app, or paying via contactless card. Holyhead Road has some of the worst air quality levels in the city.
The project is part of wider plans by Coventry City Council to help residents make the switch to an electric car easier.
Connected Kerb’s has also fitted air quality sensors into the charging points, providing real-time data on pollution levels.
The company’s CEO, Chris Pateman-Jones, said: “The purpose of this installation is to provide residents with the convenience of home charging, so that the switch to an electric vehicle (EV) becomes a viable option for them.
“Our research has found that 80% of current EV drivers charge at home. This is easy enough if you have a driveway, but 45% of the population do not. These chargers are placed on-street where drivers already park their cars, meaning they can charge overnight without any change in routine.”
The council said that because the ports are being installed in groups of six – there is no need to create electric vehicle only bays.
Cllr Jim O’Boyle, Cabinet Member for Jobs and Regeneration, said: “This scheme gives drivers in the local area the opportunity to access electric charging points and will help to encourage the gradual ownership of electric vehicles.
“This is an important programme and Coventry already has one of the largest networks of electric vehicle charge points in any city outside London. This roll-out is part of our wider programme to reduce air pollution in the city –without the need for a Clean Air Zone in the city.”
