Coventry to benefit from expanded vehicle charging network

155 on-street electric vehicle points will be installed across Coventry after the city council was awarded £700,000 via a government grant.

The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) has approved the funding which will see work start in early January.

The new charge points will increase the number installed in the city to more than 550 when they become operational by the middle of 2022.

This round of charging points will be maintained and operated by Connected Kerb under a profit-sharing agreement with the Council.

Connected Kerb will also put forward 25% of the funding for the installation of the charge points, backed by the OZEV grant.

The charging points will provide seven kilowatts of power, making them suited for longer, typically overnight stays.

Councillor Jim O’Boyle, cabinet member for jobs, regeneration and climate change, said:

This new funding means we can boost the number of charge points in residential streets with no off-road parking and help to ensure Coventry is one of the best places in the country to own or use an electric vehicle.

Whether it’s the proposed Gigafactory which would make Coventry the best place in the UK to build an electric vehicle, or Coventry Very Light Rail and our plans for an all-electric bus city, we’re ensuring the city is leading the green industrial revolution and building a cleaner, greener and more convenient transport system.

A separate grant from the Highways Agency recently boosted Coventry City Council’s Electric Fleet First scheme, which encourages businesses to switch by offering a free trial of an electric van or car.

Recent polling suggests that 77% of Midlands residents would consider buying an electric vehicle when they purchase their next car.

A recent report from regional transport partner Midlands Connect suggested that 11 public EV chargers will need to be installed in the Midlands every day until 2030 to meet anticipated demand.

Public charging points will be especially important as a third of Midlands households don’t have access to off-road parking.