The roll-out of electric vehicle charging points across the
region has been given a boost after more than £700,000 was
secured to expand the scheme.
Tees Valley Mayor welcomed the £720,000 from
Government’s Office for Zero Emission Vehicles, which will help
support the creation of public charging points to support
residents without off-street parking.
The news comes after the Mayor announced £2million to deliver 145
chargers in 32 public car parks the length and breadth of the
Tees Valley, boosting their numbers by 75% to 336.
This additional funding will allow for a greater number of
chargers in 20 of the car parks selected, those in closer
proximity to residential areas, and stretch the original funding
across the wider region.
EB Charging Ltd has been procured to supply, operate and maintain
the points, which will make it even easier for local people with
electric cars to charge them while out and about, and encourage
more drivers to switch from traditional petrol or diesel vehicles
to the cleaner alternative.
Work to install the first of these is set to kick off in May,
starting a rolling programme which will see the first points
operational this summer.
Tees Valley Mayor said: “Decarbonising transport
is vital if we are going to meet our net zero ambitions, but to
do that we have to make it as easy and practical as possible for
people to switch to low carbon alternatives like electric
vehicles.
“In the past, electric car owners had been left behind with a
massive lack of charging points, and the few that did exist were
either inconvenient, hard to access or frequently broken down.
That’s why, late last year, I signed off on £2million to boost
their numbers and almost double the amount across Teesside,
Darlington and Hartlepool.
“This extra £720,000 will give an even bigger boost to our
already extensive plans for the network, providing more reliable,
accessible points right across the region and encourage even more
people to make the switch.”
Cllr Heather Scott, Tees Valley Combined Authority Cabinet Lead
for Transport, said: “The Tees Valley is once again leading the
way in embracing new technology to help us meet ambitious
decarbonisation targets while continuing to support a reliable
and comprehensive transport network for residents and
commuters.
“The additional funding for on-street EV charging points is to be
welcomed and will further boost initiatives already under way to
provide a comprehensive network of charging points around the
region, which I hope will give drivers the confidence to consider
low-carbon options in future.”
Transport Minister said: "It's brilliant to
see Tees Valley leading the way in trialling innovative new
technology, allowing residents to travel in a way which is kinder
to our environment as we drive towards our net-zero goals.
"This Government backed the Tees Valley Hydrogen Transport Hub
last year with £3m in funding for hydrogen technologies.
“I am pleased the area is also benefitting from our On-Street
Residential ChargePoint Scheme to boost the provision of public
EV charge points, making it easier for drivers to make the
important switch to greener vehicles."
