The authority is working with Believ to install thousands of charge points in a bid to accelerate its sustainable transport transition.
£5.3 million in funding has come through central government’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) scheme, which is run by the Department for Transport. Meanwhile, the private partner is spending £16 million on the project.
Ashley Street in Ipswich became the first site to go live, with long-stay and overnight charging viable. Residential areas across the county will see installations begin, with a focus on providing access to people who do not have a driveway or off-street parking options. This forms part of the Plug-In Suffolk initiative, which launched in 2018 in a bid to ensure every resident in the authority is within a five or 10 minute walk of an EV charge pint. In total, 6,000 individual chargers will be introduced in the coming years.
‘The installation of the first charge point in the Suffolk and Believ partnership is a significant milestone for the Plug in Suffolk project,’ said Councillor Richard Rout, Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for Devolution, Local Government Reorganisation and NSIPs. ‘By working with Believ, we’re able to rapidly expand public charging infrastructure, helping more people who wish to do so make the switch to electric.
‘We’re doing this in a measured way, ensuring no on-street parking is lost and not imposing any restrictions – meaning, whatever car they drive, residents can continue to park outside their homes,’ he continued. ‘We have been receiving communications from residents who are excited about the installation of charge points outside of their homes, telling us that this infrastructure is going to help them and their neighbours make the move to more sustainable transport.’
Image: Believ
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