The UK’s largest electric vehicle (EV) chargepoint deployment by a local authority has been announced by West Sussex County Council, providing a blueprint for local authorities across the UK to deliver affordable, reliable, and accessible chargepoints in their thousands to help the 40% of drivers nationally without off-street parking to go electric.
One in four UK households intend to buy an electric car in the next five years, as the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles approaches, according to research by energy watchdog Ofgem. However, there is currently only one public-access on-street EV chargepoint for every 52 EVs on UK roads. As a result, those without off-street parking make up as few as 9% of EV drivers today.
The project seeks to provide a solution. Run in partnership with Adur and Worthing, Arun, Crawley, Horsham, and Mid Sussex district and borough councils, West Sussex residents will see thousands of chargepoints installed on streets, in public sector car parks and on community facilities across the county within the next ten years. UK-based Connected Kerb is fully funding the project and will also manage and maintain the chargepoints on an ongoing basis. The company has extensive experience of working with local authorities and public sector organisations.
The ambitious roll out scheme will see a large scale chargepoint installation giving residents the confidence to go electric in time for a ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles in 2030. It is the first step in delivering the ambitious vision set out by West Sussex County Council in its EV Strategy in December 2019.
Deborah Urquhart, West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change, said: “Electric Vehicles offer us an opportunity to travel without emitting carbon or having a negative impact on air quality, but we know that lack of public charge points is preventing many West Sussex residents from making the switch.
“I’m delighted to be taking another step forward to address this problem which will help residents take practical steps to address climate change and I look forward to working alongside Connected Kerb and our district and borough colleagues to deliver the network of West Sussex chargepoints.”
Dr Chris Pateman-Jones, Chief Executive Officer of Connected Kerb, said: “Knowing you can arrive at virtually any location, at any time, in any vehicle and charge your battery without inconvenience or faff is the reality we must deliver to create an EV society. This project – the largest of its kind in the UK – personifies that future, helping residents to reduce their carbon footprint and making electric vehicle charging accessible to those without off-street parking.
“Forward-thinking partners like the West Sussex Councils are driving forward the EV transition at pace – simultaneously providing a blueprint for other local authorities across the UK to do the same. Their example will help the entire country meet its net zero goals by 2050.”
