Brighton and Hove to install 6,000 on-street char.gy EV charge points

Brighton and Hove City Council is installing 6,000 on-street chargers in a major boost for local electric car users who don’t have access to off-street parking.

The contract, worth £130 million, is one of the largest street charging projects in the UK. It has been awarded to charge point operator char.gy, which plans to roll out the installation of the chargers the next two years.

The scheme has been part-funded by the Government’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund, and char.gy said it would be launching similar-scale projects to expand public street charging in other cities in eth coming years.

It is estimated that at least 40% of the population do not have access to off-street parking, and are reliant on street chargers or public charging networks in order to charge their EVs.

Local street chargers eliminate the need to drive to a charging station, and gives users access to cheaper overnight rates, when energy tariffs are discounted. The night rate across the char.gy network is 39p/kWh, roughly half the price of a rapid charger.

John Lewis, CEO of char.gy, said: “This is a huge moment for the country and its EV ambitions. BHCC, a consistent leader in the EV space, has set a benchmark  for proactive action and collaboration.”

Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood said: “Making charging as easy as possible is crucial to making the switch to electric a success. Rolling out over 6,000 chargers across Brighton and Hove will make driving an Electric Vehicle easier and more convenient, especially for those without a driveway.