Essex to get 5,000 on-street EV charging points

Thousands of charging points are to be installed across Essex as part of an "ambitious programme" to encourage motorists to consider an electric vehicle (EV).

Public car parks and on-street locations will get 5,000 charging points by 2031 after the county council successfully bid for £8.3m in government funding for EV infrastructure.

Work will begin this summer, with the council also running a campaign to promote the network and highlight the benefits of EVs.

Dan Land, deputy cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and sustainable transport, said the new charging points would "make it easier than ever" to go electric.

"Encouraging the switch to electric vehicles is an important part of our plans to improve air quality and our environment," he added.

"Although they are only part of the solution, electric vehicles have a key role to play alongside other travel options such as walking and cycling."

Switching to an electric vehicle saved money on fuel and maintenance costs, with public charging points "vital" for people without access to home charging, he added.

In a separate programme, the council finished work this month on 62 public EV charging points in Basildon, Brentwood, Canvey Island, Chelmsford, Colchester, Harlow and Harwich.

In June 2024, the local authority warned that more than 5,000 public charging points were needed by 2030 to keep up with the demand for EVs. At the time, it had 300.

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