CHARGEPOINT operator Connected Kerb has announced plans to more than double the number of electric vehicle (EV) chargers in North East England, following its partnership with South Tyneside Council.
The company has partnered with South Tyneside Council to deploy up to 2,100 new charge points. The partnership will mark the single largest installation of public EV charge points in the North of England to date.
The North East hosts just 2.7% of the UK’s public charging infrastructure, despite being home to almost 4% of the UK’s population. This equates to just 58 chargers per 100,000 people, compared to 193 in London, demonstrating the urgent need to level-up access to charge points across the region.
The new deployment represents a 126%vi boost to the North East’s existing network. Up to 2,100 will be installed in South Tyneside over the next 20 years – the largest single rollout in the North – with work due to begin this month.
With over a third of UK drivers calling for more charging infrastructure before they make the switch to an electric vehicle, Connected Kerb’s rollout of public charging infrastructure will play a key role in empowering drivers across the North East to get behind the wheel of an electric car.
Chris Pateman-Jones, Chief Executive of Connected Kerb, said:“With millions of pounds available to local authorities from Government initiatives such as the LEVI Fund, councils are in the driving seat to take decisive, meaningful action to deploy charge points where their communities need them the most. Our partnership with South Tyneside Council is yet another example of bold ambition turned into action.”
The partnership between Connected Kerb and South Tyneside Council will see 80% of the chargers operational in the next two years alone, increasing the number of council-operated chargers in South Tyneside more than 30-foldviii. The original network reported operational uptime of 56% while the new network will demand 99%.
The first phase of the installation will take place over at least 41 sites, including community centres, sports facilities and libraries such as Monkton Stadium, The Word and The Customs House Mill Dam car park. As part of the rollout, 43 existing charge points will be upgraded, increasing reliability and network uptime for users.
The move supports South Tyneside Council’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions and become a carbon neutral authority by 2030.
Additionally, Connected Kerb has been awarded a place on the selective NEPO framework for local authority EV charge point procurement in the North East. This means that the company can be selected from a shortlist of suppliers for upcoming projects, including the LEVI funding of £16 million later in 2024.
