North Devon will benefit from a doubling of electric vehicle (EV) car charging sites thanks to a partnership between the council and Osprey Charging.
The joint programme will more than double the current number of rapid EV chargers in the district, significantly improving access to charging for residents, businesses and the six million tourists who visit each year. A total of 15 rapid chargers are in development across the region in Barnstable, Lynton, South Molton and Ilfracombe.
The distribution of EV charge points across the UK is currently hugely varied. Access to charging is one of the biggest barriers to EV adoption and there are concerns that more rural areas where charge points are traditionally less common, such as North Devon, risk being left behind in the EV transition if there is not visible reassurance of ample public charging.
Furthermore, over six million people visit northern Devon throughout the year and tourism is one of the region’s most economically important sectors. As EV uptake increases across the country ahead of the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel vehicles, more and more of these visitors will require EV charging to complete their journeys and continue to visit.
Patrick Sherriff, Property Director of Osprey Charging, said: “No region should be left behind in the transition to cleaner transport. North Devon have made a choice to future-proof their communities and protect the environment, with a safe, reliable, accessible rapid charging service. Osprey’s investment in high-power charging stations in Devon makes choosing an electric vehicle possible not only for the millions of seasonal visitors to the area, but crucially to the local residents and businesses who might otherwise be nervous of making the transition.”
Lead Member for Economic Development and Regeneration at North Devon Council, Councillor Malcolm Prowse, said: “We are firmly committed to encouraging cleaner transport across the district; cherishing and protecting our environment is one of the council’s corporate priorities. These upcoming installations will be great news for EV drivers who currently live in or visit our district and will hopefully encourage others to consider transitioning to electric vehicles in the future. By partnering with an innovative company like Osprey, which installs, manages, and maintains the rapid chargers, we’re able to deliver essential EV infrastructure at no cost to the council.”
Image courtesy of Osprey.
