New convenient electric vehicle (EV) charging points have been installed in Harlow Council-owned public car parks in The Stow and Old Harlow.
They have been installed in existing parking bays within the Garden Terrace and Minchen Road car parks, and are fast chargers (7kW) which can fully charge a typical electric car in 6-8 hours (assuming a 20% state of charge for an average battery and dependent on vehicle battery size).
As part of the council’s commitment to sustainability and reducing carbon emissions, the charging points ensure that EV drivers have easy access to charging facilities, further encouraging the use of electric vehicles and contributing to a greener future. The availability of EV charging points in public car parks will help to promote the use of electric vehicles as a viable mode of sustainable transport.
These are the first points to be installed in Harlow Council run car parks and were installed thanks to the council securing £60,090 in government funding as part of the On-Street Residential ChargePoint Scheme (ORCS) and Harlow Council working with bp pulse who contributed the remaining 40% of the project cost as part of the ORCS funding.
Users can park in one of the bays, pay for their parking as normal and then pay to use a charging point on either a pay-as-you-go tariff or through a bp pulse subscription.
Councillor Nicky Purse, cabinet portfolio holder for sustainability and environment, said:
“I am delighted to introduce these EV charging points to what is a very well-used car park in our town. With more and more electric vehicles appearing on our roads, we need to make sure there is public provision for drivers to be able to charge them on the go.
“These public charging points have primarily been installed for residents who live or visit the Old Harlow and Stow areas that do not have access to private off-street charging facilities. While the car parks are pay and display from 8am-5pm it is free to park overnight, which would make this a cost-effective option.
“This marks a significant step towards reducing Harlow’s carbon footprint and promoting sustainable transport options in the town. With more public EV charging points in the pipeline, we are aiming to improve air quality and contribute to a greener, cleaner environment for everyone.”
Details on charging and tariff information can be found at www.bppulse.co.uk/help-centre/charging/faq/ev-charging-on-the-go
In addition to this, Essex County Council has launched a public consultation on the Essex Electric Vehicle Charge Point Strategy, which runs until Sunday 30 July and sets out plans for how to deliver ‘the Right Charger in the Right Place’. To find out more and have your say, visit www.essexhighways.org/ev-strategy
