North East Mayor Kim McGuinness today launched a multi-million pound programme that will see hundreds of new electric car charge points installed in streets throughout the region over the next three years.
The North East Combined Authority has secured a £15.8m award following a successful bid for Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) funding that will eventually see more than 1,000 charge points installed by 2030, with hundreds expected to be delivered in the next three years.
The new charge points will be rolled-out right across the North East Combined Authority area and primarily targeted at residential areas without off-street parking such as driveways.
New charge points will also be built in areas traditionally considered of ‘low’ commercial value, helping to plug gaps where areas are not covered by commercial charge points.
Rural communities will also benefit from new charging infrastructure, as will deprived areas across the North East. It is hoped this targeted approach will mean that more local people can make the switch to a Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) with more confidence.
North East Mayor Kim McGuinness, said:
“I am delighted that we have secured £15.8m to grow our electric vehicle charging network. This funding will deliver an additional 1,000 new charging points right across the region by 2030 which is really exciting.
“As a driver of an electric vehicle, I know how challenging it can be to find a convenient place to charge. Of course, I want to encourage more people to consider making the switch to electric, but I know following many conversations with local people that to do this, we need to ensure the infrastructure is there so residents can make any change with confidence. I hope these new residential based points will be helpful for our communities and will encourage more people to consider an electric vehicle in the future.”
Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood said:
“It’s fantastic to see the North East Mayor Kim McGuiness confirm that NECA will deliver hundreds of chargepoints across the region thanks to our near £16m boost.
“We saw great growth in the North East chargepoint network in the last quarter and this funding will keep the momentum going, making it easier to make a supported switch to EVs, supporting jobs and helping the UK become a clean energy superpower as part of Plan for Change.”
The Local EV Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund supports local authorities in England to plan and deliver charging infrastructure for residents without off-street parking. The North East Combined Authority has been awarded the second largest allocation in the country.