Essex County Council is beginning the installation of 5,000 public EV chargepoints and is launching a campaign to promote the transition.
The £8.3 million programme to install 5,000 new public EV charging points across the county comes alongside its Electrifying Essex campaign to highlight the benefits of EVs and the growing support available to help its citizens to make the switch.
In terms of what it is promoting in the campaign, it said that it was highlighting how customers could save £1,400 a year in fuel and maintenance costs; how the price of used EVs had dropped by more than 30% since 2022; and how they help to reduce emissions and air quality. It was also promoting its own growing public charging network.
It was also running an EV experience event this summer to showcase EVs and allow citizens to try out such vehicles.
Installations of chargepoints will start this summer, with operators installing 5,000 new charging points in on-street locations and in public car parks throughout Essex by 2031.
The programme, funded by the government’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund, will help support people without access to home charging. It will also provide convenient access for drivers to charge their vehicles when they’re away from home or on a longer journey.
Dan Land, deputy cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and sustainable transport, told the BBC:
“Encouraging the switch to electric vehicles is an important part of our plans to improve air quality and our environment,” he added.
“Although they are only part of the solution, electric vehicles have a key role to play alongside other travel options such as walking and cycling.”
Image courtesy of Green Car Guide
