Elmbridge Borough Council to install new chargers
Elmbridge Borough Council is installing 25 new electric vehicle (EV) charge points in the area as part of its 2030 sustainability vision.
The local authority appointed smart energy firm SMS to increase charging across eight council-owned locations to assist in the transition to EVs, and improve local air quality. The EV chargers at Claygate, Cobham, Hersham and Walton-on-Thames will be available to residents during the evening, between 6pm and 8am, seven days a week.
SMS also installed four 22kW chargers at Elmbridge Borough Council’s Civic Offices, and six 22kW and one 60kW rapid charger at the council’s transport depot. Infrastructure for a further nine passive chargers have also been placed there, which will be connected as more of the council’s fleet transition to electric vehicles as part of its green fleet strategy.
A combination of rapid and fast overnight chargers have been installed at the depot to ensure the charging needs of Elmbridge’s EV fleet are fully met. The 25 EV chargers installed by SMS are in addition to the 12 chargers already located in Elmbridge’s pay and display car parks.
Councillor David Young, Portfolio Holder for Climate Change and Sustainability at Elmbridge Borough Council said: “Working with SMS to improve accessibility to EV charging in the borough has been a crucial step forward in our sustainability journey, and will help our residents to make the switch to electric vehicles. At Elmbridge Borough Council, we prioritise protecting the natural environment, and this will help us to reduce our carbon emissions and improve air quality within our neighbourhoods.”
Lee Feihn, Head of EV Infrastructure at SMS, said: “Providing smart and accessible energy solutions for communities is the heart of what we do, and it’s a pleasure to partner with Elmbridge Borough Council to enhance EV charging options in the area and help them realise their sustainability goals.
“SMS’s industry expertise and engineering capabilities enable us to manage the end-to-end design, installation, and deployment of EV charging infrastructure in Elmbridge. We are confident that we’ve provided the best solution for the borough, which will ensure more of the area’s transport fleet, residents and workers have access to EV chargers as and when they need them.”
Image courtesy of Elmbridge BC