Reading Borough Council has partnered with Charge Point Operator (CPO) char.gy to deliver around 2,600 public EV charging points to residential streets across the area.
Under the new 15-year partnership, charge points will be rolled out across the borough, prioritising residential areas where parking is on-street. The target is for at least 90% of households without a driveway will be within 100 metres of a public charger.
The first installations will begin appearing in the coming months, it said, with around 1,500 in place within two years. Most will be fitted to existing lamp columns, with standalone units where space allows.
Transport accounts for around 26% of carbon emissions in Reading, and improving air quality is a core priority in the Council’s climate strategy.
This project sits alongside other steps it is taking toward a greener Reading, such as a £9 million investment in 49 new electric buses.
Reading Borough Council secured £866,000 from the UK Government’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund for the scheme, at no direct cost to residents.
Cllr John Ennis, Lead Councillor for Climate Strategy and Transport, said:
“Almost half of households in the borough do not have driveways or off-street parking which is a significant barrier to people choosing EVs.
“We will be prioritising high-density residential areas without access to off-street parking for the installation of public charging points to clear the way for more people to make the switch to electric.
“Transport is responsible for around 26% of carbon emissions in Reading. Alongside the Council’s work to increase active travel and the use of public transport, boosted by £9m government funding for 49 new electric buses, this scheme will help improve our local environment, air quality and the health of Reading residents.”
John Lewis, CEO of char.gy, said:
“Today’s announcement is a big milestone for both char.gy and Reading Borough Council. Together, we’ll deliver thousands of public charge points designed around the way people in Reading actually live, park and travel. Our goal is to create a network that’s reliable, accessible and fair, giving more people the confidence to make the switch to electric vehicles.
“We’re proud to support Reading’s wider sustainability ambitions, helping to accelerate the transition to cleaner transport and better air quality for local communities.”
Image courtesy of char.gy
