Dudley Council has announced that 37 new on-street charging points are to be installed in residential areas across the borough, with the first installations beginning later this year.
The charge points installed will be bollard-style chargers, positioned along pavements for residents who do not have access to off-street parking.
The £420k scheme is being funded in part via a Office of Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) grant, and by the appointed charge point operator (CPO).
The on-street 7kW charge points can charge a 40kW capacity battery in 4 to 6 hours, and are suited to residential areas where drivers are more likely to leave their vehicles parked for a prolonged period, or overnight.
“The installation of these charge points will form an important role in Dudley borough’s mixed approach to EV charging,” said Councillor Dr Rob Clinton, Dudley Council’s cabinet member for climate change.
"They will not only help those residents who would struggle to charge an electric vehicle from their home but will also help us to reduce emissions as part of the Black Country Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle Strategy.”
Locations have been identified based on a set of criteria which must include: being located near residential properties with no off-street parking, sufficient local power/grid capacity, adequate footpath and road widths, and in locations which are free from other street furniture/overhanging trees, as well as having minimum impact on existing on-street parking practices.
“The charge points are small and discreet and should take around four days to fit so will cause minimal disruption to residents,” said Councillor Damian Corfield, the authority’s cabinet member for highways and environmental services.
A consultation for proposals for further charge points in more locations across the borough is set for the coming weeks.
