As part of the Plug in Suffolk project, Believ has installed the first of thousands planned across the county
The Suffolk EV charge points have been funded by the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) scheme, via the Department for Transport (DfT).
The funding has put £5.3m towards EV charging points, and the charge point operator (CPO) Believ, who is responsible for these first chargers, has also supported the project with £16m.
The first charge point site is in Ipswich
The EV chargers being installed are both long-stay and overnight charging, allowing local and travelling EVs to charge at the best rate for them. The installation includes PAS 1899 compliant infrastructure, and more charge points are to be rolled out across residential areas.
The Plug in Suffolk project was launched in 2018 to support the local adoption of electric vehicles, and aims to ensure that all residents of within a 5-10 minute walk or wheel of a charge point.
Believ is also installing air quality sensors in these areas to monitor the intended improvement in local air quality as transport emissions are reduced.
Guy Bartlett, CEO at Believ, said: “We’re proud to be working with Suffolk County Council on a project that supports its climate goals. By making EV charging infrastructure more accessible, and therefore the EV switch easier, it benefits the residents across the county. This is a key step towards ensuring no community is left behind in the transition to electric mobility.”
Councillor Richard Rout, Suffolk County Council’s cabinet member for devolution, local government reorganisation and NSIPs, said: “The installation of the first charge point in the Suffolk and Believ partnership is a significant milestone for the Plug in Suffolk project. By working with Believ, we’re able to rapidly expand public charging infrastructure, helping more people who wish to do so make the switch to electric.
“We’re doing this in a measured way, ensuring no on-street parking is lost and not imposing any restrictions – meaning, whatever car they drive, residents can continue to park outside their homes.
“We have been receiving communications from residents who are excited about the installation of charge points outside of their homes, telling us that this infrastructure is going to help them and their neighbours make the move to more sustainable transport.”
Electric vehicles are also being adopted by construction
In February last year, Transport for London announced that they would be trialling electric construction vehicles, including two electric excavators, that can be recharged on the move.
The trial was undertaken in partnership with FM Conway.
Carl Eddleston, TfL’s director of network management and resilience, said: “The health of everybody in London is central to our work, and we are determined to meet our 2030 net zero targets. That’s why I’m so pleased that we’re continuing to take these important steps to reduce emissions and protect air quality.
“The trial of electric construction vehicles at Redcliffe Gardens is such a vital part of achieving our goals, and our work with FM Conway, Volvo CE, and Charge Fairy shows how construction across our transport network can be environmentally conscious.
“We are going to review the trial results and carry on exploring the best ways to decarbonise our network construction chain.”
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