London boroughs to have 1,500 charge points installed

Around £4.5 million has been allocated to install 1,500 electric vehicle charge points across 25 boroughs in London.

The standard-speed on-street charging points will be placed in residential areas and are part of the mayor of London Sadiq Khan’s plans for zero-carbon transport in the capital.

A total of 25 boroughs will receive up to £300,000 each for the charge points, which are aimed at those without access to off-street parking to make the switch from polluting vehicles to zero-emission vehicles.

They will be in addition to the network of rapid charge points TfL is installing by the end of 2020.

The £4.48 million allocated to boroughs forms part of an award London received from the government's Office for Low Emission Vehicles' Go Ultra Low City Scheme, a nationwide competition to give several areas funding to increase electric vehicle use.

The boroughs have sought funding allocations based on perceived demand and electric vehicle take-up. Borough teams will now work to identify sites where charging points could be installed to support local residents to make the switch to greener vehicles.

The funding will also support innovative new approaches such as using lamp posts as the base and power supply for charge points.

The mayor's draft Transport Strategy aims for all taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (PHVs) to be zero-emission capable by 2033, for all buses to be zero emission by 2037, for all new road vehicles driven in London to be zero emission by 2040, and for London's entire transport system to be zero emission by 2050.

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “This substantial investment in electric charging points will make a real difference, making electric vehicles an easier and more practical option for Londoners across our city.

“We have a bold ambition to make London's transport system zero emission by 2050, and working with boroughs to roll out more charging infrastructure is a vital part of making this a reality.”

The boroughs given funding under the award are:Barnet; Bexley; Brent; Camden; Croydon; Ealing; Greenwich; Hackney; Hammersmith and Fulham; Havering; Hounslow; Islington; Kensington and Chelsea; Lambeth; Lewisham; Merton; Newham; Redbridge; Richmond; Southwark; Tower Hamlets; Waltham Forest; Wandsworth; and Westminster.

Further funding will be allocated to interested boroughs in 2018/19 once Transport for London, London Councils and the GLA are happy with the progress being made on the current allocation.

Centrica Consortium, BluepointLondon, Chargemaster, Electricity Supply Board (ESB) and Fastned will fund, maintain, operate and install the rapid charge network.