Dozens of new electric vehicle charging points installed in Portsmouth and Cosham with city becoming first to implement on street chargers
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Portsmouth City Council completed the project which created 62 new on-street charge points – on top of 36 already in the city.
This was possible due to more than £200,000 being contributed from the Office for Zero Emissions (OZEV)
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Hide AdCouncillor Lynne Stagg, Portsmouth’s traffic and transportation boss, said: ‘We've seen plenty of interest in electric vehicles locally, from both residents and the taxi and private hire trade.
‘We hope that the ability to charge outside your own home as a domestic user, or rapidly as part of your day as a trade user, will be a great incentive to join the revolution and reduce emissions further.’
The council has also installed a rapid charger for taxis and private hire vehicles in Stubbington.
Nine of these points are planned for car parks across the city including the Park and Ride, D-Day museum in Southsea, Cosham and the city centre.
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Hide AdThe aim is to help people who drive for a living to also choose electric vehicles.
Cllr Stagg added: ‘When the time comes to replace your existing vehicle, we are making it easier for you to consider an electric vehicle, even if you don't have a driveway.
‘Whilst we understand they are not the complete solution for removing harmful emissions, they do produce much lower levels of pollution and have a place in making our air cleaner, alongside limiting unnecessary car journeys, taking the bus, walking, cycling or renting an e-scooter.’
New charging points were installed by the council’s infrastructure partner JoJu Charging.
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Hide AdChas Warlow, from Joju Charging, said: ‘It’s great to be working with Portsmouth City Council to help residents and local taxi drivers charge their electric vehicles, with this leading ‘pay-as you-go’ solution across the city.’
Portsmouth is the first city install charge points on-street, using a pay-as-you-go lamp column supplied charging.
These are accessed via designated parking bays.
Many houses in the city do not have access to a driveway or garage, so cannot charge an electric car off the street.
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Martin Hoy, a city resident who uses the charge points, said: ‘We took a leap of faith buying an electric vehicle, but I wouldn't go back.
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Hide Ad‘We've become a one car family with my wife and I sharing the car.
‘When I don't drive to work I cycle instead.
‘I've also taken the car on longer journeys across the country and it's been easy to use and charge on the go.’
A full list of where the charging points are located in Portsmouth and surrounding areas can be found here.
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