Wealden District Council is looking for business partners to expand the network of electric vehicle (EV) charge points across the district.
The search is under way at a time when the BBC has reported that it believes the Government is poised to announce it will bring forward by a decade a ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars to 2030 from 2040.
The Wealden district lags many other areas in the number of public EV change points available to drivers, as this website reported a year ago.
EV charge point gap
Latest data shows there are currently 17 publicly accessible car-charging connections across eight locations in Wealden.
Last month, Wealden’s Cabinet announced it would try and plug the gap by seeking a private sector partner to share the revenue and risks involved in expanding the district’s EV charge-point network, as reported here.
Following the decision, Wealden will explore linking with private sector organisations and working with neighbouring councils where possible.
Commercial viability
Grant options available through the Office of Low Emission Vehicles for areas where charge points won’t initially be commercially viable
Cllr Roy Galley, Cabinet member responsible for economic development said:
Cllr Roy Galley
“Vehicle emissions are the biggest contributor to global warming in Wealden.
“They account for nearly half our CO2 emissions.
“In our response to the climate emergency, we must do more to encourage electric vehicle technology.”
The council owns and operates 36 public car parks, some of which could be used to provide EV charging points.
As well as encouraging residents who are not able to install their own off-road charging facility to switch to electric vehicles, increasing the public provision of EV charging points is seen as an important factor in supporting local tourism.
An online map of the current EV charge points in Wealden can be found here on the Zap-Map website.
See also:
Maresfield Bonners children raise flag for Remembrance
Christmas at Cole’s Menswear … and more business updates
Former PHD hairdressers could become ‘drinking establishment’
Find local businesses in our Uckfield Directory
How to advertise on UckfieldNews.com