Shropshire Council secures funding for electric vehicles charging trial
Shropshire Council is part of a consortium that has secured major funding from the Department of Energy, Business and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) for an innovative new project.
Agile Streets will see the installation of smart charging points for electric vehicles all across the Shropshire Council area.
The project is a collaboration with Octopus Energy, Connected Kerb, the Energy Saving Trust, Power Networks Distribution and SLS Ltd. It will be led by global telecommunications company Samsung.
Agile Streets will focus on providing on-street charging in residential areas across the Shropshire Council area for local EV drivers who do not have driveways. The council is working hard to identify the most suitable locations in the county and installations will be funded by this grant.
Funding has been secured for new charge points across the county
Smart charging will help improve the customer experience by allowing Shropshire drivers to charge their cars using renewable energy during off-peak hours when prices are typically lower.
This project will build on the infrastructure already put in place by Shropshire Council, which includes the installation of two new EV charging points in March 2020. Since installation, these charging points have saved over 2.5 tonnes of carbon – the equivalent of 6,203 driven by an average vehicle – and charged 187 vehicles.
Dean Carroll, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for adult social care, public health and climate change, said:
“This funding is extremely welcomed and we’re excited to work with partners on expanding the EV charging network across the county.
“As the move to a low carbon economy accelerates, we must ensure that we have the infrastructure in place to support it, and this includes EV charging.
“As electric vehicles become more affordable and more people consider making the switch, it is crucial that we give them the confidence and knowledge to do so, and this project is an important step forward in supporting zero emission travel.”
Steve Davenport, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for highways and transport, said:
“The council, and businesses in other sectors such as supermarkets, have been making steady progress in improving the EV charging network in Shropshire.
“As more people make the switch from the traditional combustion engine, we must ensure local EV charging infrastructure is in place and projects like Agile Streets will be important in helping us achieve that.
“I’m looking forward to seeing how the project progresses and am confident it will be a success.”
The council will continue to explore opportunities to further expand the EV charging network across the Shropshire Council area.
