Ambitions to make it easier for West Yorkshire residents to
charge electric vehicles closer to where they live have taken a
major step forward.
Blink Charging has been selected to deliver the first phase of
the region's Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI)
programme, with 716 new chargers set to be installed.
The £1.4million pilot, using government funding to focus on areas
without off-street parking, is part of plans by the West
Yorkshire Combined Authority and the five district councils to
create a comprehensive network of public electric vehicle charge
points.
, Mayor of West Yorkshire,
said: “It's fantastic to have Blink on board as we make
it easier for people to switch to electric vehicles.
“These new charge points closer to home will bring huge benefits
to people without off-street parking and contribute to improving
air quality in our communities.
“Investing in electric vehicle chargers that are safe, reliable
and easy to use will help us build a greener, better-connected
West Yorkshire that works for all.”
“It's an honour to be working with the West Yorkshire Combined
Authority on this significant and impactful project,”
said Alex Calnan, Managing Director of Europe for
Blink. “This LEVI funding win also marks the latest in a
series of key milestones in Blink's UK expansion, reinforcing our
commitment to supporting local authorities in their net-zero
ambitions.
“As more drivers transition to electric vehicles, it's essential
that we continue to provide accessible and high-quality charging
infrastructure. We look forward to working closely with each of
the five West Yorkshire councils to make this a reality.”
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, , said: “We're making
it easier and more affordable than ever to own an electric car.
Thanks to our LEVI funding residents across West Yorkshire will
soon be able to plug into hundreds of new chargepoints across the
region, making it more convenient to charge on the go, no matter
where you live.
“On top of that we're cutting costs for drivers too, with
discounts of up to £3,750 off some new EVs to help working people
and families make the switch to electric. It's all about making
EVs cheaper and a reality for more families, across the UK.”
The project will see Blink work closely with each of West
Yorkshire's district councils and their communities to ensure
chargers are installed in the right places, with a combination of
on-street locations and off-street areas such as car parks.
Sites will be chosen using a data-driven approach, taking into
account the views of residents and the operator's
expertise.
A range of Standard (3.7kW to under 8kW), Fast (8kW to 49kW), and
Rapid (50kW to 149kW) charge points will be delivered to meet the
needs of communities.
The Combined Authority has been awarded a further £14.3m of
capital funding from the government for the second and third
phases of West Yorkshire's LEVI programme, with suppliers
expected to be appointed in 2026 and 2027 respectively.
By helping more people in West Yorkshire switch to an electric
vehicle, the LEVI funding will contribute to the Combined
Authority's ambition of a net zero carbon region by 2038 at the
latest.
Notes to editors
- The Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund, administered
by the Department for Transport, supports local authorities
across the country to plan and deliver charging infrastructure
for people without access to off-street parking.
- The LEVI programme forms part of West Yorkshire's Electric
Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy, which was agreed earlier this
year and sets out how the Combined Authority and the five
district councils will work together to ensure there are enough
places to charge electric cars and vans in public where people
need them. This will sit alongside the new West Yorkshire Climate
and Environment Plan.
