Park & Charge Oxfordshire EV network completed

The Park & Charge Oxfordshire electric vehicle (EV) network – installed and operated by Bicester-based specialists EZ-Charge – was declared open at a ceremony this week.

The network, which is seen as an exemplar of public and private sector collaboration, now includes 250 chargepoints across 20 hubs across the county.

It was funded with grants from national government and led by EZ-Charge (pronounced easy charge), working in partnership with the University of Oxford, Urban Integrated UK and Oxfordshire County Council who in turn worked with Cherwell, South Oxfordshire, West Oxfordshire and Vale of the White Horse district councils.

The project has already proved to be a success, delivering more than 250,000kW/h of power across more than 16,000 individual charging sessions. That’s enough to drive a fully-electric car to the moon and back TWICE.

Flicking the switch to officially make the Claremont charging hub live, Phil Shadbolt OBE, chairman and chief executive of EZ-Charge, said: “At times it felt like Mission Impossible but today we can declare Park & Charge Oxfordshire complete.

“This is a network the whole country is looking to for inspiration and one for which everyone in the county should feel incredibly proud.”

He added: “Although this feels the end of the journey it is really only the beginning. We now need to double down on our efforts to increase the availability of charging and variety of charging options at county and national level.”

Councillor Pete Sudbury, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change Delivery and Environment, said: “The reaction from Oxfordshire residents has been overwhelmingly positive, from EV drivers and prospective EV drivers alike.

“Park and Charge is enabling local people who don’t have private off-street parking to have a convenient location to charge their EVs overnight, meaning more Oxfordshire residents have the opportunity to drive electric. It’s another great reason to make sure your next vehicle is an EV.”

Image courtesy of EZ-Charge.

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