Electric vehicle (EV) charge point operator (CPO) Believ has been appointed by Hertfordshire County Council to deliver a £38m expansion of public EV charging infrastructure.
Believ is one of three providers that will be delivering charge points within Hertfordshire, as the council split into areas to support a smooth rollout and create clear, manageable networks for each CPO, it said.
The initiative will see Believ deliver up to 3,974 standard plus sockets (up to 22kW) and 248 rapid sockets (50kW) across Dacorum, Hertsmere, Three Rivers and Watford, supported by a Believ investment of £36 million.
The majority of charge points will be installed on residential streets, prioritising areas where households do not have access to private driveways and meeting the need for long-stay and overnight charging. Rapid chargers will also be installed in selected council car parks to support drivers who require quicker top-ups.
The rollout will be primarily funded by Believ, with Hertfordshire County Council contributing £2.1 million through the government’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund.
Believ will manage the full network, including planning, installation, operation and ongoing maintenance of all chargers, with a tailored, site-by-site delivery approach designed to overcome common on-street challenges such as power constraints, limited land availability and footpath width, it said.
Supporting equitable access to EV charging is a central focus of the project. By expanding on-street provision, the partnership aims to help remove a key barrier to EV ownership for residents who rely on on-street parking.
It will also directly contribute to Hertfordshire County Council’s objective to support the transition to electric and low emission vehicles.
Executive Director of Growth and Environment, Hertfordshire County Council, Mark Doran, said:
“Expanding access to on-street EV charging is a key step in supporting residents to make the switch to electric vehicles. We know that lack of access to home charging can be a barrier for many people, particularly those without driveways.
“This programme will help address that by providing reliable, convenient charging options closer to where people live. It also supports our commitment to growing a greener Hertfordshire by reducing emissions and enabling more sustainable journeys across the county.”
Guy Bartlett, Believ CEO, said:
“Charging access shouldn’t depend on having a driveway. This partnership will bring more than 4,000 on-street, long-stay chargers and 240 rapids to communities within Hertfordshire – making it much easier for residents to plug in locally, charge overnight, or top up quickly when they need to.
“We’re proud to invest in and run this network end-to-end, so drivers can count on charging that’s convenient, reliable and ready for everyday life.”
Image courtesy of Hertfordshire County Council/Believ
