The UK has hit a new electric vehicle charging milestone, with the installation of thousands of kerbside chargers across the country and the planned introduction of thousands more.
One of the most popular chargepoint operators, char.gy, has confirmed that it has installed its 5,000th electric vehicle charger.
The milestone charger, which was installed in Brighton and Hove, comes as the company follows through with ambitious plans to install kerbside chargers for millions of drivers.
It also forms part of Brighton and Hove City Council’s goal of deploying 6,000 kerbside chargers across the city, which makes it the largest network outside of London.
Data shows that 40 per cent of UK homes do not have a driveway, with many seeing this as the largest hurdle in the mission to invest in an electric car.
Without convenient home, workplace or community chargers, drivers risk paying hefty sums if they rely on ultra-rapid public chargers.
The rollout of these kerbside chargers is designed to benefit thousands of motorists who rely solely on on-street parking across major cities.
John Lewis, CEO of char.gy, described the milestone achievement as a “proud moment” for the chargepoint operator.
char.gy has installed its milestone 5,000th kerbside electric car charger
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CHAR.GYHe noted that the continued installation of kerbside chargers could help millions of drivers “seriously consider” ditching petrol and diesel in favour of electric.
“On-street charging has moved from the margins to the mainstream – and it’s becoming an essential part of how the UK gets to net zero,” Mr Lewis said.
char.gy works with several councils and has seen dramatic growth in charger installations in recent years.
A massive installation drive saw 300 chargers operational around Barnet in just six weeks, as part of plans to install 500 chargers across the region.
The landmark installation of the 5,000th charger was completed in Brighton and Hove
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CHAR.GY
It also works with Reading Borough Council to install 2,600 chargers and the Isle of Wight to integrate 1,500 new chargepoints.
In Reading, at least 90 per cent of households without off-street parking are expected to be within 100 metres of a public charger.
char.gy uses existing street furniture, including lamp columns, to help drivers charge their vehicles, while keeping disruption to a minimum when installing.
Drivers also have peace of mind when charging their EVs in the knowledge that the entire network is powered by renewable electricity.
Brighton and Hove now has the largest public charging network outside of London
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CHAR.GYIn partnership with EDF, energy is fed directly into the national grid from renewable sources and is backed by Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGO) certificates.
Raghav Singh, Business Supply Director at EDF, said: “char.gy’s 5,000th charge point is a strong example of how quickly on-street EV charging is expanding across the UK.
“As demand for electric vehicles grows, access to convenient, reliable charging powered by renewable energy will be essential in supporting more drivers, particularly those without off-street parking.
“We’re proud to be helping power this network with renewable energy, and it’s great to be working alongside char.gy as they continue to scale and make on-street EV charging more accessible for communities across the country.”