An extra five electric vehicle charging points are being installed in the borough.
These follow installations last year as part of the effort to improve local air quality along the A127 between Basildon and Rochford District. The initiative is part of the authorities’ response to the Government’s National Air Quality Plan for tackling nitrogen dioxide.
Basildon Council is working in partnership with Rochford District Council on this grant-funded project alongside Electric Vehicle charger supplier Swarco UK/eVolt. The aim is to reduce the levels of nitrogen in the shortest possible time.
This partnership lead to the councils being awarded a £1,258,000 grant from the Department for Transport, and a further £187,500 from the Office of Low Emission Vehicles. This phase of works sees the delivery of the final charger installations for general use in Basildon car parks, as well as some new taxi-specific chargers in three of the borough’s main towns.
We are installing the new electric vehicle chargers in the following areas:
Rose Lane car park, Billericay – two rapid chargers for public use
Lake Meadows car park – One rapid charger for taxis
Wickford Main car park – One rapid charger for taxis
Market Pavement car park, Basildon – One rapid charger for taxis
Chairman of Basildon Council’s Infrastructure and Inclusive Growth Committee Councillor Adele Brown said: “When it comes to improving our environment we want to be at the forefront of these intiatives as we encourage businesses and the public to move towards a greener society.
“These latest installations are the start of something great and innovative in Basildon.
“I look forward to the initiatives that will come in the future, making Basildon greener and safer environment for residents.”
Chairman of the Neighbourhoods and Public Spaces Committee Councillor David Harrison added:
“This is great news for the borough and for our environment. It will be of particular benefit to local taxi drivers. The more of these points we can get installed across our borough the quicker we can move towards a greener and cleaner borough.”
General Manager of SWARCO eVolt, Justin Meyer said: “Basildon Council’s transport strategy includes successfully setting up key infrastructure to support drivers to switch to electric vehicles, which will have the additional benefit of helping to improve air quality across the borough.
“We know, from work we’ve been doing with councils up and down the country, that taxis and private hire operators are open to switching to ultra-low emission vehicles, and based on their typical journeys using an EV makes perfect sense. Our eVolt charging points, which are set up on our growing SWARCO E.Connect network, are very reliable and easy to use. They have been installed at strategic points around the borough and will support those who are already driving an EV and encourage others to convert sooner rather than later.”
Further information about electric vehicle charger locations and types across the borough can be found at https://www.zap-map.com/.
