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Suffolk County Council has partnered with operator Believ to deliver around 6,000 new public electric vehicle chargepoints across the county, starting next summer.
Why it matters: 25% of Suffolk households don't have a driveway and park on their street, creating a significant barrier for residents considering electric vehicle ownership.
The big picture: The rollout aims to provide residents without driveways access to a public chargepoint within a 5-10 minute walk.
By the numbers:
£5.3 million secured from the government's Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund
An additional £16 million provided by operator Believ
Nearly 140,000 tons of emissions forecast to be removed by late 2026
The details: The majority of new units will be bollard-style chargers at the kerbside, suitable for long-stay or overnight charging. Drivers will benefit from an overnight off-peak tariff and a dedicated resident's tariff with discounted charging at all times.
Public car parks will also see rapid and ultra-rapid chargepoint installations for quicker charging options.
What they're saying: "We are providing a solution by installing chargepoints on their street, or very nearby. Our ambition is to provide them with a public chargepoint within a 5-10 minute walk or wheel," said Councillor Philip Fairclough-Mutton, Suffolk County Council's Cabinet Member for Environment, Communities and Equality.
Guy Bartlett, Believ CEO, said: "We're delighted to have been awarded the opportunity to rollout such a significant number of chargepoints across Suffolk. It will make a real difference to local EV drivers and give others the confidence to go electric, helping to support our mission to deliver cleaner air for all."
What's next: In advance of all on-street chargepoint installations, local residents will receive letters with details of the work due to take place, including information on timescales.
The bottom line: Suffolk County Council is the first local authority in England to both award their LEVI main funding tender and subsequently sign a contract with an operator, allowing installations to begin at pace to help meet the county's target of 5,400 public chargepoints by 2030.
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